Section 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.

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