- (A) The department has jurisdiction over all saltwater fish, fishing, fisheries, and marine resources within the salt waters of this State, including the territorial sea.
- (B) The department is authorized to conduct research, surveys, and other investigations to manage fish and marine resources; to provide for protection of the salt waters and the marine habitat upon which these resources are dependent; and to provide for the development of saltwater fisheries and mariculture.
- (C) Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of this chapter do not apply to fish or fishing in the freshwaters of this State.
- (D) The provisions of this chapter apply to all impounded waters seaward of the freshwater/saltwater dividing line which are intermittently filled or drained by the action of the tide.
- (E) Impoundments seaward of the freshwater/saltwater dividing line which are naturally occurring or are not influenced by the action of the tide are freshwaters for purposes of jurisdiction of this title.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 28-159; 1952 Code Section 28-159; 1942 Code Section 3301; 1932 Code Section 3301; 1924 (33) 1016; 1925 (34) 225; 1952 (47) 2890; 1955 (49) 478; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1259; 2000 Act No. 245, Section 1.