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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="4-1009.1" title_number="4" title_name="Fish and Fisheries" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="Oysters and Clams">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Department may adopt regulations which designate an area as a harvest reserve area for oysters.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, by publishing public notice, the Department may establish for a harvest reserve area:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The opening or closure of an area for the harvesting or conservation of oysters;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The harvest limit;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The seasons, days, and times when oysters may be harvested;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A minimum size limit of not less than 3 inches; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A maximum size limit.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An action of the Department under subsection (b) of this section may not become effective until:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A copy of the notice to be published under item (ii) of this paragraph has been delivered to the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>48 hours after notice has been published:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>In at least one newspaper of general circulation in the State;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>In at least one newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the affected waters are located; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>On the website of the Department.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The notice required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall state all applicable reasons for the Department’s action.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Department shall use the following biological criteria for the opening and closing of a harvest reserve area:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Growth rates;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Disease prevalence and intensity;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Mortality thresholds; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Biomass thresholds.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
