PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 576

power dredging of oysters; establishing a certain oyster sanctuary in Somerset
County; prohibiting the catching of oysters from the oyster sanctuary: providing for
the review and termination of certain provisions of this Act; and generally relating
to power dredging the catching of oysters in waters contiguous to Somerset County.

BY adding to

Article - Natural Resources

Section 4-1014

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1989 Replacement Volume and 1996 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

4-1014.

(A)    THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO THE WATERS OF THE STATE THAT LIE
CONTIGUOUS TO SOMERSET COUNTY IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

(B)     A PERSON SHALL BE LICENSED BY THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THE
PERSON MAY CATCH OYSTERS WITH A POWER DREDGE IN THE WATERS OF THE
STATE THAT LIE CONTIGUOUS TO SOMERSET COUNTY, AS DESCRIBED IN
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION.

(C)     (1) A PERSON MAY NOT HOLD AN OYSTER HARVESTER LICENSE AND A
POWER DREDGE LICENSE SIMULTANEOUSLY.

(2)     THE DEPARTMENT:

(I)      MAY ISSUE A POWER DREDGE LICENSE ONLY TO THE HOLDER
OF AN OYSTER HARVESTER LICENSE; AND

(II)    SHALL SUSPEND A PERSON'S OYSTER HARVESTER LICENSE ON
ISSUANCE OF A POWER DREDGE LICENSE UNTIL THE TIME THAT THE HOLDER
SURRENDERS THE POWER DREDGE LICENSE TO THE DEPARTMENT.

(3)     (I) IF A PERSON WANTS TO REOBTAIN THE PERSON'S PREVIOUSLY
VALID OYSTER HARVESTER LICENSE, THE PERSON SHALL RETURN THE PERSON'S
CURRENTLY VALID POWER DREDGING LICENSE TO THE DEPARTMENT.

(II) UPON RECEIPT OF THE POWER DREDGING LICENSE, THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL EXCHANGE AT NO COST THE POWER DREDGING LICENSE FOR
THE PERSON'S FORMER, CURRENTLY VALID OYSTER LICENSE.

(D)    A PERSON MAY CATCH OYSTERS BY POWER DREDGE ONLY DURING THE
POWER DREDGING SEASON FROM NOVEMBER 1 TO MARCH 15 IN THE FOLLOWING
AREAS:

(1) IN THE WATERS OF THIS STATE THAT LIE CONTIGUOUS TO
SOMERSET COUNTY, INCLUDING ALL OF THE WATERS FROM THE AREA OF KEDGES

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