2080

LAWS OF MARYLAND

[Ch. 327

ALL METHODS AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING THOSE DESCRIBED
ABOVE WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO BRING ANY ENDANGERED OR
THREATENED SPECIES TO THE POINT AT WHICH THE MEASURES
PROVIDED FOR THESE SPECIES PURSUANT TO THIS SUBTITLE ARE
NO LONGER NECESSARY EXCEPT THAT REGULATED TAKING AS A
METHOD AND PROCEDURE SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE
EXTRAORDINARY CASE WHERE POPULATION PRESSURES WITHIN A
GIVEN ECOSYSTEM CANNOT BE OTHERWISE RELIEVED.

(C)    "ECOSYSTEM" MEANS A SYSTEM OF LIVING ORGANISMS
AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT, EACH INFLUENCING THE EXISTENCE OF
THE OTHER AND [[BOTH]] NECESSARY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF
LIFE.

(D)    "ENDANGERED SPECIES" MEANS ANY SPECIES WHOSE
CONTINUED EXISTENCE AS A VIABLE COMPONENT OF THE STATE'S
FISH RESOURCES IS DETERMINED TO BE IN JEOPARDY INCLUDING
ANY SPECIES OF FISH DETERMINED TO BE AN "ENDANGERED
SPECIES" PURSUANT TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.

(E)    "ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT" MEANS THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT OF 1973, 87 STAT. 884.

(F)     "OPTIMUM CARRYING CAPACITY" MEANS THAT POINT
AT WHICH A GIVEN HABITAT CAM SUPPORT HEALTHY POPULATIONS
OF FISH SPECIES, HAVING REGARD TO [[HE]] THE TOTAL
ECOSYSTEM, WITHOUT DIMINISHING THE ABILITY OF THE HABITAT
TO CONTINUE THAT FUNCTION.

(G)     "SPECIES" INCLUDES ANY SUBSPECIES OF FISH AND
ANY OTHER   GROUP OF FISH OF THE SAME SPECIES OR SMALLER
TAXA IN COMMON SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT THAT INTERBREED WHEN
MATURE.

(H) "TAKE" MEANS TO HARASS, HARM, PURSUE, HUNT,
SHOOT, WOUND, KILL, TRAP, CAPTURE, OR COLLECT, OR TO
ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE IN ANY SUCH CONDUCT.

(I) "THREATENED SPECIES" MEANS ANY SPECIES OF FISH
WHICH APPEARS LIKELY, WITHIN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, TO
BECOME ENDANGERED INCLUDING ANY SPECIES OF FISH
DETERMINED TO BE A "THREATENED SPECIES" PURSUANT TO THE
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.

4-2A02.

THE GENERAL [[ASEMBLY]] ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT: (1) IT
IS THE POLICY OF THIS STATE TO CONSERVE SPECIES OF FISH
FOR HUMAN ENJOYMENT, FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES, AND TO
INSURE THEIR PERPETUATION AS VIABLE COMPONENTS OF THEIR
ECOSYSTEMS; (2) SPECIES OF FISH NORMALLY OCCURRING WITHIN
THE STATE WHICH MAY BE FOUND TO BE THREATENED OR
ENDANGERED WITHIN THE STATE SHOULD BE ACCORDED THE
PROTECTION NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THEIR