CHAPTER 199
FORMERLY
SENATE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1
TO
SENATE BILL NO. 63
AS AMENDED BY SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 9, TITLE 7, DELAWARE CODE, TO PERMIT RECREATIONAL DRIFT GILL NET FISHING FOR SHAD IN THE DELAWARE RIVER.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend §915, Chapter 9, Title 7, Delaware Code by adding thereto a new subsection (j) to read as follows:
"(j)(1.) It shall be lawful for any person who has appropriate food fishing equipment permits for gill nets and a recreational drift gill net permit issued by the Department to fish any drifting gill net, subject to the provisions of this subsection."
It shall be unlawful for any recreational finfishermen who has been issued a recreational drift gill net permit by
the Department to fish a drift gill net in any waters of the State except in a section of the Delaware River, not including any tributaries thereto, located to the south of a line beginning at the tip of the southern most jetty at the mouth of the C & D Canal and extending due east and to the north of a line beginning at Liston Point and continuing due east during a period of time beginning at 12:01 a.m. on March 15 and ending at 12:00 p.m. on May 10 next ensuing each year.
It shall be lawful for any recreational finfisherman who has been issued a recreational drift gill net permit for gill nets and appropriate food fishing equipment permit for gill nets by the Department to fish a single drift net provided it does not exceed 300 feet in length.
An application for a recreational drift gill net permit may be submitted annually to the Department on a form supplied by the Department. Each application shall provide credible evidence that the person applying for the recreational drift gill net permit fished a drift gill net prior to 1984 in the Delaware River for American shad. Applications shall be submitted to the Department prior to 4:30 p.m. on the last Friday in February. The Department shall hold a public drawing of the applicants no later than 4:30 p.m. on first Friday in March. The first 10 applications drawn will be issued a recreational drift net permit to be valid until midnight on May 10 next ensuing. If any of the 10 selected applicants fail to obtain his/her recreational drift gill net permit from the Department by 4:30 p.m. on the second Friday in March, applicants drawn in numerical order after the first 10 shall be authorized to be issued a recreational drift gill net permit."
Section 2. Amend §903(e(1) by adding a new paragraph (f) to read as follows:
"(f) Restrict the mesh size of recreational drift gill nets that may be fished for American shad in the Delaware River."
Approved February 5, 1992