HARRY HUGHES, Governor

4033

Article - Natural Resources

4-2A-05.1 4-2A-04.

UNLESS THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND THE POTOMAC RIVER
FISHERIES COMMISSION BY NOVEMBER 1, 1985 BOTH IMPOSE A SIMILAR
MORATORIUM ON THE TAKING, POSSESSION, SALE, OR TRANSPORTING OF

STRIPED BASS OR ROCKFISH, THE SECRETARY SHALL REMOVE ALL

MORATORIUMS ON THE TAKING, POSSESSION, SALE OR TRANSPORTING OF
STRIPED BASS OR ROCKFISH IN THE WATERS OF THE STATE.

(A) ANY MORATORIUM IMPOSED BY THE SECRETARY ON THE TAKING,
POSSESSION, SALE, OR TRANSPORTATION OF STRIPED BASS OR ROCKFISH
IN THE WATERS OF THIS STATE SHALL END ON JUNE 1, 1987, UNLESS
EXTENDED BEYOND THAT DATE FOR INTERVALS OF 1 YEAR OR LESS BY ACTS
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND EACH YEAR.

(B)(1) (G) (1) FOR ANY SPECIES OF FISH THAT THE SECRETARY
HAS DECLARED TO BE ENDANGERED OR THREATENED UNDER SUBSECTION (B)
OF THIS SECTION AND ON WHICH THE SECRETARY HAS DECLARED A
MORATORIUM ON CATCHING, SALE, OR POSSESSION, THE SECRETARY SHALL
MAKE AN ANNUAL STATUS REPORT ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 TO THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AS PROVIDED IN § 2-1312 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT
ARTICLE, AND TO THE GOVERNOR.

(2) THE SECRETARY'S REPORT SHALL CONTAIN:

(I)  FIELD STUDIES ON SPAWNING STOCK SIZE;

(II)  MEASUREMENT OF EGG DEPOSITION ON SPAWNING
GROUNDS;

(III)  MEASUREMENTS OF MORTALITY RATES OF FISH
EGGS, LARVAE, AND JUVENILES ON SPAWNING GROUNDS, NURSERY AREAS,
AND SPAWNING RIVERS;

(IV)  BIOASSAYS ON EGGS AND LARVAE COLLECTED
FROM SPAWNING FISH;

(V)  MEASUREMENTS OF HEAVY METALS, PCB'S, ACID
RAIN LEACHATES, SEDIMENTS, AND OTHER DISTRESSES TO THE HABITAT;

(VI)  STUDIES ON ACID RAIN;

(VII)  STUDIES ON THE ROLE OF FISH DISEASES;

(VIII)  TREND ANALYSES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
FUTURE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS; AND

(IX)  A RECOMMENDATION TO CONTINUE FOR 1 YEAR OR
TO DISCONTINUE THE MORATORIUM ON THE CATCHING, SALE, OR
POSSESSION OF THE FISH.