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H 5745

Red Snapper

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Phillip Lowe

The bill bans all commercial handling of red snapper in South Carolina, making any possession or trade contraband and subject to disposal under existing laws.

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
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Bill Summary · H 5745

Purpose and intent

  • The bill adds a new prohibition to South Carolina law governing the sale and handling of live or fresh fish and saltwater fishery products.
  • Specifically, it makes it unlawful to buy, receive, handle, pack, process, ship, consign, land, possess, sell, barter, or trade red snapper for commercial purposes within the state.
  • Red snapper that are possessed or landed in violation are deemed contraband and must be disposed of under existing provisions for contraband landings (Section 50-5-325(L)).

Key provisions and changes

  • Section amended: 50-5-365 of the South Carolina Code (licensing requirements and penalties related to sale/transportation of live or fresh fish and saltwater fishery products).
  • New subsection (G) establishes:
    • A blanket prohibition on commercial activities involving red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) within South Carolina.
    • Covers all stages of the supply chain: buying, receiving, handling, packing, processing, shipping, consigning, landing, possessing, selling, bartering, or trading red snapper for commercial purposes.
    • Violations result in the red snapper being treated as contraband.
    • Disposal of contraband red snapper must follow the procedures in Section 50-5-325(L).
  • Effective date: The act becomes effective upon approval by the Governor.

Who or what is affected

  • Entities engaged in the commercial handling or trade of red snapper in South Carolina, including:
    • Buyers, receivers, packagers, processors, shippers, consignors, landers, possessors, sellers, barterers, or traders of red snapper.
  • Enforcement and enforcement agencies under the state’s fishery and illicit-transport framework, which would apply disposal procedures for contraband.
  • Red snapper supply chain actors operating within the state who would need to comply or halt commercial activities involving red snapper.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and reading: Introduced and first read on June 25, 2026.
  • Referral: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs on the same date.
  • The bill’s effectiveness hinges on Governor’s approval to become law.

Additional notes

  • Co-sponsor: Phillip Lowe.
  • The bill does not specify penalties beyond classifying contraband status and disposal obligations; it delegates enforcement to existing contraband disposal procedures.
  • By prohibiting all commercial transactions involving red snapper, the measure could impact fishermen, distributors, markets, and others who previously traded red snapper commercially within the state.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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