(A) Except as provided in this section, a turtle excluder device must be used in trawl nets in the salt waters of this State under the same conditions required by federal regulations.
(B) Until the federal regulations are amended to require turtle excluder device escape openings having dimensions equal to or greater than those required in item (1) of this subsection, each trawl net using a hard turtle excluder device in the salt waters of this State:
(1) must have a turtle excluder device escape opening of no less than thirty-five inches in taut horizontal length and no less than twenty inches in simultaneous vertical taut height, or
(2) must have a federally approved leatherback or double cover flap hard turtle excluder device modification.
(C) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4; 2002 Act No. 260, Section 1; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 27.