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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="4-11A-11" title_number="4" title_name="Fish and Fisheries" subtitle_number="11A" subtitle_name="Aquaculture">
  <level label="a">
    <text>This section applies to demonstration leases.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department may issue a demonstration lease to a public high school, an incorporated college or university within the State, a 4–H club, or a nonstock, nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the State exclusively for educational, conservation, or ecological purposes.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An application for a demonstration lease shall include a declaration that the applicant intends to actively use the leased area for demonstration purposes and a proposed plan for active use of the lease.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The size of the lease may not exceed 5 acres.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The proposed lease area may not be located:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Within a minimum of 50 feet of shoreline or any pier without the written permission of the riparian owner at the time of application for the lease;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Within 150 feet of the public shellfish fishery or a registered pound net site;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Within 150 feet of an oyster reserve or any Yates Bar located in an oyster sanctuary;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Within 150 feet of a federal navigational channel;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>In any creek, cove, bay, or inlet less than 300 feet wide at its mouth at mean low tide;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>In an SAV Protection Zone; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>In a setback or buffer from the Assateague Island National Seashore established by the Department.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A demonstration lease may not be assigned or transferred.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any transfer or assignment or attempt to transfer or assign a lease shall be void and the interest in submerged land shall revert to the State without the necessity of any action by the State.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>A demonstration leaseholder shall actively use the lease for the purpose of demonstrating the ecological benefits of growing shellfish or for research or education.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Failure to actively use the lease may result in termination of the lease.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A person may not harvest shellfish for commercial or consumption purposes from an area that is subject to a demonstration lease.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
