The sole right of planting, cultivating in racks or other structures, and gathering oysters and erecting bathhouses and other structures in front of any land bordering on the Gulf of Mexico or Mississippi Sound or waters tributary thereto belongs to the riparian owner and extends not more than seven hundred fifty (750) yards from the shore, measuring from the average low water mark, but where the distance from shore to shore is less than fifteen hundred (1500) yards, the owners of either shore may plant and gather to a line equidistant between the two (2) shores, but no person shall plant in any natural channel so as to interfere with navigation, and such riparian rights shall not include any reef or natural oyster bed and does not extend beyond any channel. A riparian owner shall comply with the Coastal Wetlands Protection Act in exercising the use of these riparian rights. Stakes of such frail materials as will not injure any watercraft may be set up to designate the bounds of the plantation, but navigation shall not be impeded thereby. The riparian owner shall clearly mark such cultivation racks and other structures. The commission may adopt regulations to require that the racks are adequately marked to ensure the safety of users of public waters. Any oysters planted by such riparian owner are the private property of such riparian owner, subject to the right of the commission to adopt reasonable rules and regulations as to the planting and gathering of such oysters. All bathhouses, piers, wharfs, docks and pavilions, or other structures owned by riparian owner are likewise the private property of such owner, who shall be entitled to the exclusive use, occupancy and possession thereof, and may abate any private or public nuisance committed by any person or persons in the area of his riparian ownership and may, for such purposes, resort to any remedial action authorized by law. The governing authorities of any municipality and the board of supervisors of any county are authorized to adopt reasonable rules and regulations to protect riparian owners in the enjoyment of their riparian rights, and for such purposes may regulate the use of beaches, landings, and riparian areas abutting or fronting on roads, streets or highways.
Structure Mississippi Code
Title 49 - Conservation and Ecology
Article 1 - General Provisions
§ 49-15-1. Public policy of the state as to seafood laws
§ 49-15-2. Standards for fishery conservation and management; fishery management plans
§ 49-15-5. All seafoods initially the property of the state
§ 49-15-7. Oyster, clam, cay shells and other shells declared to be property of state
§ 49-15-9. Rights of riparian owners on Gulf Coast defined
§ 49-15-16. Limited entry fisheries management program
§ 49-15-18. Distribution of chapter
§ 49-15-21. Enforcement officers; reserve unit
§ 49-15-25. Advisory council may be appointed by commission
§ 49-15-27. Commission granted authority to lease bottoms
§ 49-15-35. Authority to regulate taking and catching of menhaden
§ 49-15-37. Cultivation of oyster reefs; removal of oysters from restricted areas
§ 49-15-41. Oysters not to be caught at night
§ 49-15-43. Packaging of oysters; containers
§ 49-15-44. Sale or possession of illegal oysters prohibited; penalties
§ 49-15-64.1. Shrimp season: waters closed to shrimping
§ 49-15-64.2. Shrimping permitted with cast net
§ 49-15-65. Jurisdiction of courts; appeals
§ 49-15-73. Use of aircraft to assist in harvesting of redfish; penalties
§ 49-15-74. Open season for menhaden
§ 49-15-83. Interpretation and application of Sections 49-15-71 through 49-15-81
§ 49-15-87. "Peeler crab" and "soft-shell crab" defined
§ 49-15-89. Unlawful to catch, destroy, confine, hold or have in possession certain crabs
§ 49-15-91. Regulatory authority for maximum number of crab pots allowable per licensee
§ 49-15-94. Use of purse seine to catch mullet during roe mullet season; penalties
§ 49-15-96. Keeping of certain fish caught in shrimp nets for personal consumption
§ 49-15-97. Requirement that commercial fishing vessels use approved lights; penalties
§ 49-15-100.1. Forfeiture of vessels, motors and equipment used in violation of Section 49-15-100
§ 49-15-100.3. Prima facie evidence of use of prohibited equipment