GEORGIA STATUTES AND CODES
               		§ 27-4-210 - Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact
               		
               		
               	 	
               	 	               	 	
               	 	
               	 	
               	 		
O.C.G.A.    27-4-210   (2010)
   27-4-210.    Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact 
      The  Governor of this state is authorized and directed to execute a compact  on behalf of the State of Georgia with any one or more of the States of  Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New  York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South  Carolina, and Florida, and with such other states as may enter into the  compact, legally joining therein the form substantially as follows:
  
"ATLANTIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMPACT.
  
The contracting states solemnly agree:
  
Article I.
  
The  purpose of this compact is to promote the better utilization of the  fisheries, marine, shell and anadromous, of the Atlantic seaboard by the  development of a joint program for the promotion and protection of such  fisheries, and by the prevention of the physical waste of the fisheries  from any cause. It is not the purpose of this compact to authorize the  states joining herein to limit the production of fish or fish products  for the purpose of establishing or fixing the price thereof, or creating  and perpetuating monopoly.
  
Article II.
  
This  agreement shall become operative immediately as to those states  executing it whenever any two or more of the States of Maine, New  Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New  Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,  Georgia, and Florida have executed it in the form that is in accordance  with the laws of the executing state and the Congress has given its  consent. Any state contiguous with any of the aforementioned states and  riparian upon waters frequented by anadromous fish, flowing into waters  under the jurisdiction of any of the aforementioned states, may become a  party hereto as hereinafter provided.
  
Article III.
  
Each  state joining herein shall appoint three representatives to a  commission hereby constituted and designated as the Atlantic States  Marine Fisheries Commission. One shall be the executive officer of the  administrative agency of such state charged with the conservation of the  fisheries resources to which this compact pertains or, if there be more  than one officer or agency, the official of that state named by the  governor thereof. The second shall be a member of the legislature of  such state designated by the commission or committee on interstate  cooperation of such state, or if there be none, or if said commission on  interstate cooperation cannot constitutionally designate the said  member, such legislator shall be designated by the governor thereof;  provided, that if it is constitutionally impossible to appoint a  legislator as a commissioner from such state, the second member shall be  appointed by the governor of said state in his discretion. The third  shall be a citizen who shall have a knowledge or an interest in the  marine fisheries problem to be appointed by the governor. This  commission shall be a body corporate with the powers and duties set  forth herein.
  
Article IV.
  
The  duty of the said commission shall be to make inquiry and ascertain from  time to time such methods, practice, circumstances and conditions as  may be disclosed for bringing about the conservation and the prevention  of the depletion and physical waste of the fisheries, marine, shell and  anadromous, of the Atlantic seaboard. The commission shall have power to  recommend the coordination of the exercise of the police powers of the  several states within their respective jurisdictions to promote the  preservation of those fisheries and their protection against  overfishing, waste, depletion or any abuse whatsoever, and to assure a  continuing yield from the fisheries resources of the aforementioned  states.
To that end the commission shall  draft and, after consultation with the advisory committee hereinafter  authorized, recommend to the governors and legislatures of the various  signatory states legislation dealing with the conservation of the  marine, shell and anadromous fisheries of the Atlantic seaboard. The  commission shall, more than one month prior to any regular meeting of  the legislature in any signatory state, present to the governor of the  state its recommendations relating to enactments to be made by the  legislature of this compact.
The commission  shall consult with and advise the pertinent administrative agencies in  the states party hereto with regard to problems connected with the  fisheries and recommend the adoption of such regulations as it deems  advisable.
The commission shall have power  to recommend to the states party hereto the stocking of the waters of  such states with fish and fish eggs or joint stocking by some or all of  the states party hereto and when two or more of the states shall jointly  stock waters the commission shall act as the coordinating agency for  such stocking.
  
Article V.
  
The  commission shall elect from its number a chairman and a vice-chairman  and shall appoint and at its pleasure remove or discharge such officers  and employees as may be required to carry the provisions of this compact  into effect and shall fix and determine their duties, qualifications  and compensation. Said commission shall adopt rules and regulations for  the conduct of its business. It may establish and maintain one or more  offices for the transaction of its business and may meet at any time or  place but must meet at least once a year.
  
Article VI.
  
No  action shall be taken by the commission in regard to its general  affairs except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole number  of compacting states present at any meeting. No recommendation shall be  made by the commission in regard to any species of fish except by the  affirmative vote of a majority of the compacting states which have an  interest in such species. The commission shall define what shall be an  interest.
  
Article VII.
  
The  Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior of the  Government of the United States shall act as the primary research agency  of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission cooperating with the  research agencies in each state for that purpose. Representatives of  the said Fish and Wildlife Service shall attend the meetings of the  commission.
An advisory committee to be  representative of the commercial fisherman and the saltwater anglers and  such other interests of each state as the commission deems advisable  shall be established by the commission as soon as practical for the  purpose of advising the commission upon such recommendations as it may  desire to make.
  
Article VIII.
  
When  any state other than those named specifically in Article II of this  compact becomes a party thereto for the purpose of conserving its  anadromous fish in accordance with the provisions of Article II, the  participation of such state in the action of the commission shall be  limited to such species of anadromous fish.
  
Article IX.
  
Nothing  in this compact shall be construed to limit the powers of any signatory  state or to repeal or prevent the enactment of any legislation or the  enforcement of any requirement by any signatory state imposing  additional conditions and restrictions to conserve its fisheries.
  
Article X.
  
Continued  absence of representation or of any representative on the commission  from any state party hereto shall be brought to the attention of the  governor thereof.
  
Article XI.
  
The  states party hereto agree to make annual appropriations to the support  of the commission in proportion to the primary market value of the  products of their fisheries, exclusive of cod and haddock, as recorded  in the most recent published reports of the Fish and Wildlife Service of  the United States Department of the Interior, provided no state shall  contribute less than $200 per annum and the annual contribution of each  state above the minimum shall be figured to the nearest $100.
The  compacting states agree to appropriate initially the annual amounts  scheduled below, which amounts are calculated in the manner set forth  herein, on the basis of the catch record of 1938. Subsequent budgets  shall be recommended by a majority of the commission and the cost  thereof allocated equitably among the states in accordance with their  respective interests and submitted to the compacting states.
  
  
                                Schedule  of  Initial  Annual  State  Contributions                                  
  
      Maine...............................................................$ 700.00
  
      New  Hampshire.........................................................200.00
  
      Massachusetts.......................................................2,300.00
  
      Rhode  Island..........................................................300.00
  
      Connecticut...........................................................400.00
  
      New  York............................................................1,300.00
  
      New  Jersey............................................................800.00
  
      Delaware..............................................................200.00
  
      Maryland..............................................................700.00
  
      Virginia............................................................1,300.00
  
      North  Carolina........................................................600.00
  
      South  Carolina........................................................200.00
  
      Georgia...............................................................200.00
  
      Florida.............................................................1,500.00
  
Article XII.
  
This  compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each compacting  state until renounced by it. Renunciation of this compact must be  preceded by sending six months' notice in writing of intention to  withdraw from the compact to the other states party hereto."