Committee approves amendment to maintain higher catch limits for snapper-grouper species (S.219)

The Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee approved an amendment and gave a favorable report to S.219, a bill addressing catch limits for the snapper-grouper fishery in state waters.

A representative of the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council explained the bill’s purpose: to prevent a federal closure of the snapper-grouper fishery from automatically reducing state limits by decoupling state limits from federal limits and instead setting state limits to reflect the 2024–2025 South Carolina hunting and fishing regulations or federal limits, depending on which is higher for catch and lower for minimum size.

"The subcommittee amendment provides that the lawful catch limit for a snapper grouper species will be the limit published in the 2024–2025 guide or the federal limit for the species, whichever is higher," the council representative said. The amendment further provides that the lawful minimum size limit is the limit published in the 2024–2025 guide or the federal limit, whichever is lower.

Senator Goldfinch, sponsor of the bill, said the change gives the state "its ability to control its own destiny with fisheries" and would provide a mechanism should state jurisdiction expand beyond three miles.

The committee moved, seconded and approved the amendment and gave the bill a favorable report by voice vote; the chair declared "the ayes have it." The transcript records proxies voting aye as well on committee matters.

The amendment and favorable report advance S.219 to the Senate floor for further consideration.