Current through March 14, 2024
A. The following reef locations are hereby
defined as state-owned reefs:
1. The location
and boundaries within Henderson Point Reef are defined beginning at 30.28911,
-89.306056; thence running south to 30.275936, -89.307225; thence running
easterly to 30.276742, -89.286143; thence running north-northwest to 30.285544,
-89.287495; thence northwest to 30.286804, -89.298546; thence north-northwest
to 30.288524,-89.301152; thence west-northwest to the starting point of
30.28911, -89.306056.
2. The
location and boundaries within Pass Christian Reef are defined beginning at
30.295625, -89.259498; thence running due south to 30.266667, -89.259722;
thence running eastward to 30.266706, -89.239754; thence running due north to
30.295594, -89.238995; thence running northwest to 30.307562, -89.243751;
thence east-southeast to 30.304763, -89.253733; thence southeast to the
starting point of 30.295625, -89.259498.
3. The location and boundaries within Pass
Marianne Reef are defined beginning at 30.260434, -89.257656; thence running
due south to 30.232937, -89.257053; thence running east-northeast to 30.237694,
-89.235895; thence heading north-northeast to 30.261201, -89.229848, thence
running westerly to the starting point of 30.260434, -89.257656.
4. The location and boundaries within Biloxi
Bay Reef are defined beginning at 30.390865, -88.850817; thence north-northeast
to 30.397775, -88.849747; thence running easterly 30.398098, -88.840548; thence
southeast to 30.397022, -88.838840; thence due south to 30.390560, -88.839293;
thence westerly to the starting point of 30.390865, -88.850817.
5. The location and boundaries within
Shearwater Reef are defined beginning at 30.395348, -88.828985; thence running
north-northeast to 30.396273, -88.828634; thence running east-northeast to
30.396738, -88.823464; thence running southeast to 30.395822, -88.820765;
thence running due south to 30.392236, -88.820854; thence running northwest to
the starting point of 30.395348, -88.828985.
6. The location and boundaries within
Pascagoula West Reef are defined beginning at 30.350556, -88.629745, thence
running north to 30.351887, -88.629707; thence running east to 30.351965,
-88.619731; thence southeast to 30.346569, -88.615309; thence southwest to
30.345063, -88.619559; thence northwest to the starting point of 30.350556,
-88.629745.
7. The location and
boundaries within the Pascagoula Causeway Reef are defined beginning at
30.337473, -88.586133; thence running west-northwest to 30.338845, -88.592265;
thence northwest to 30.343418, -88.596595; thence north-northeast to 30.349412,
-88.595152; thence east to 30.349177, -88.588124; thence running
south-southeast to starting point of 30.337473, -88.586133.
B. All molluscan shellstock taken
from state-owned reefs by any person, firm or corporation must measure three
(3) inches or more from end to end. End to end measurement is the greatest
length from the hinge to the bill. It is unlawful for any person, firm, or
corporation to purchase, sell or possess molluscan shellfish harvested from
public reefs that are under the legal-size limit.
C. Any person, firm or corporation harvesting
molluscan shellfish on state-owned reefs must first register on the day of
harvest with the MDMR.
1. Check stations will
operate from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time when the area is open for
harvest or until the final harvester that checked in for the day has checked
out.
2. All shellfish harvesting
activities must cease prior to 4:00 p.m. each day and all fishermen must be
checked out at the appropriate check station by 4:00 p.m. If a harvester does
not return to a check station by 4:00 p.m., all shellfish harvested that day
will be confiscated by an MDMR Authority.
3. Any exception to these conditions due to
unforeseen circumstances must have prior approval by an MDMR
Authority.
D. All
molluscan shellfish must be properly tagged immediately upon landing on the
date of harvest.
E. All shellstock
must be packed in clean containers before the boat or vessel leaves the reef
from which they were harvested.
F.
Molluscan shellstock harvested from state-owned reefs must be culled.
1. Harvesters must immediately scatter and
broadcast evenly, all dead shells, small oysters, and oysters in excess of the
daily sack limits onto the natural reefs from which they are taken.
2. A ten percent (10%) tolerance by number is
allowed in relation to any culling. The ten percent (10%) tolerance is
determined from a representative sample of ten percent (10%) of the total
catch.
G. It is unlawful
to transfer molluscan shellfish from one vessel to another vessel, until the
vessels have been checked out at the appropriate check station.
H. While engaged in the harvest of molluscan
shellfish, it is unlawful for any boat or vessel to tow or to be tied to any
other boat or vessel licensed for shellfish harvesting.
I. It is unlawful for any boats or vessels
engaged in the harvest of molluscan shellfish to fail to be continuously manned
by a qualified person capable of operating the boat or vessel from the time of
check-in for the day until the time of check-out.
J. Upon registration, while harvesting, or
upon check-out, each person may be required to show their license to an MDMR
Authority.
K. It is unlawful for
any harvester engaged in harvesting molluscan shellfish on a tonging reef to
have an oyster dredge on board the boat or vessel.
Miss. Code
Ann. §§
49-15-15, 49-15-36, 49-15-38, 49-15-39, 49-15-303, 49-15-304;
NSSP Model Ordinance §§ II-VIII, III-VIII,
IV-H
