---
title: O.C.G.A. § 27-4-130. Authority to close salt waters; notice; regulations prohibiting sale of seafood.
collection: code
id: 27-4-130
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 27-4-130 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4-130
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4-130.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4-130/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t27-t30-(v22)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=f493d811_0#page=216
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: GAME AND FISH / FISH / SEAFOOD / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 27-4-130. Authority to close salt waters; notice; regulations prohibiting sale of seafood.

(a) The commissioner shall have the power to close all or any portion of the salt waters of this state to commercial and noncommercial fishing by species for a period not to exceed six months within a calendar year. Any determination to close the salt waters pursuant to this subsection or to reopen such waters shall be made in accordance with current, sound principles of wildlife research and management.

(b) Nothing in this Code section shall prohibit a person from landing in this state any fish or seafood taken in federal waters pursuant to a valid commercial federal permit.

(c) For the purposes of enforcing this article, the department is authorized to zone the salt waters of this state.

(d) Public notice of the opening or closing of salt waters as provided in this article shall be given by posting a notice of such opening or closing at the courthouse in each coastal county and by such other means as may appear feasible to inform interested persons of the opening or closing. Such notices shall be posted at least 24 hours prior to any enforcement action taken pursuant to this Code section.

(e) In accordance with current, sound principles of wildlife research and management, the board is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to prohibit the sale of any or all seafood in this state.

## History

Code 1981, § 27-4-130, enacted by Ga. L. 2012, p. 739, § 18/HB 869.

## Editor's Notes

This Code section formerly pertained to factors governing the decision to open or close salt waters and public notice thereof. The former Code section was based on Code 1933, § 45-900, enacted by Ga. L. 1979, p. 678, § 35; Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 27.