Bill > H4839

This bill makes it illegal to catch or keep certain species of hammerhead sharks, specifically the great hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, and Carolina hammerhead. If any of these sharks are caught, they must be immediately released back into the water and kept submerged at all times during the release process, and no one is allowed to take photographs with these sharks out of the water. Violators will face penalties, with escalating fines and potential jail time for repeat offenses within five years. The bill also includes provisions related to salvaging skeletal muscular tissue from cartilaginous fish, which are defined as sharks, skates, and stingrays, and their products, eggs, or by-products not intended for human consumption, with penalties for failing to salvage the specified parts of the fish.