---
title: O.C.G.A. § 27-4-4. Unlawful dumping; recovery of damages.
collection: code
id: 27-4-4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 27-4-4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4-4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4-4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4-4/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=187
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.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4-3.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/27-4-5.md
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 / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 27-4-4. Unlawful dumping; recovery of damages.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, dump, drain, or allow to pass into any waters of this state which belong to the department or which are being utilized by the department for fish propagation any sawdust, dyestuff, oil, chemicals, or other deleterious substances that will or may tend to injure, destroy, or drive away from such waters any fish or aquatic organisms which may inhabit such waters.

(b) The state, through the department, may recover damages in a civil action against any person who unlawfully or negligently injures or destroys any fish or aquatic organism in any waters which belong to the department or which are being utilized by the department for fish propagation. The measure of damages in such action shall be the amount which will compensate for all the detriment proximately caused by the destruction or injury of such fish or aquatic organism.

## History

Ga. L. 1968, p. 497, § 22; Code 1933, § 45-702, enacted by Ga. L. 1977, p. 396, § 1.