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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".09" citation="COMAR 08.02.03.09" title_num="08" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="03" heading="Recreational Crabbing Licenses — Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Recreational Crabbing License.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as provided in §E of this regulation, an individual who catches or attempts to catch crabs for recreational purposes in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries shall pay the fee and obtain a recreational crabbing license in order to use the following gear to catch crabs:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Trotline;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Collapsible traps or net rings;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Up to ten eel pots for catching the individual's own bait, which are:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Clearly labeled with the individual's name;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Not placed in a buoy free channel as listed in Regulation .07H of this chapter or COMAR 08.02.05.08F; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Used only for catching eels; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Seines.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The annual fee for a recreational crabbing license to catch or attempt to catch crabs for recreational purposes from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries with the gear specified in §A(1) of this regulation is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>For a Maryland resident — $5;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>For a Maryland resident, in possession of a Maryland Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license or a resident consolidated senior sport fishing license — $2;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>For a nonresident — $10.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An individual who has purchased a recreational crabbing license shall have the license in possession when:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Engaged in crabbing for recreational purposes with the gear listed under §A(1) of this regulation; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>In possession of more crabs than provided for in the daily catch limits set forth in Regulation .10A(2)(a), A(3)(a) and (b), and A(4)(a) of this chapter and not on a boat that has been licensed as a recreational crab boat.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Recreational Crabbing Boat License.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A recreational crabbing boat license authorizes an individual to use the following gear to catch or attempt to catch crabs in the licensed boat in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Trotline; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Collapsible traps or net rings.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The annual fee for a recreational crabbing boat license to catch or attempt to catch crabs for recreational purposes from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries with the gear specified in §B(1) of this regulation is $15.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>To the recreational crabbing boat licensee, the Department shall issue:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A recreational crabbing boat decal; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A complimentary recreational crabbing license.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Except as provided in §B(5) of this regulation, the recreational crabbing boat decal:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Shall be permanently affixed and displayed on either side of the forward half of the vessel for which issued;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Is not transferable; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Shall, when displayed, exempt all persons aboard from the requirement of possessing an individual license to crab recreationally.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Exemption for Crabbing Boat Decals. If the crabbing boat decal is not permanently affixed to the vessel, all persons aboard are exempt from the requirement of possessing an individual license to crab recreationally only if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The individual who purchased the crabbing boat decal is present on the vessel;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The individual who purchased the crabbing boat decal is in possession of the proof of purchase issued by the Department; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The crabbing boat decal was purchased within the previous 10 calendar days.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Complimentary Recreational Crabbing License.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Department shall issue a complimentary recreational crabbing license to an individual who purchases a:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Recreational crabbing boat license; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing boat license in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-745(d)(2), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The individual issued the complimentary recreational crabbing license has the same restrictions as an individual with a recreational crabbing license.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The recreational crabbing boat license and the complimentary recreational crabbing license count as a single license for the individual who purchases the recreational crabbing boat license.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Private Waterfront Property Crab Pot Registration.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Only a person who owns or leases private property along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries may obtain a private waterfront property crab pot registration.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A person who owns or leases private property along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries shall obtain a private waterfront property crab pot registration in order to use a crab pot from the person’s property.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>There is no fee for a private waterfront property crab pot registration.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Exceptions. An individual who catches or attempts to catch crabs for recreational purposes in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries is not required to have a recreational crabbing license if the individual:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Uses any of the following gear:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A dipnet;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A handline; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Up to two crab pots, if qualified to use crab pots as set forth in Regulation .07D of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Is assisting an individual who has a recreational crabbing license; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Is crabbing for recreational purposes from a boat that has been licensed by the Department as a recreational crabbing boat.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>General.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A recreational crabbing license, recreational crabbing boat license, or private waterfront property crab pot registration is valid for 365 days following the date of issuance.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A recreational crabbing license, recreational crabbing boat license, or private waterfront property crab pot registration may be obtained from any authorized agent of the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Department may designate a person engaged in a commercial enterprise as an agent to sell recreational crabbing licenses, recreational crabbing boat licenses, or issue private waterfront property crab pot registrations.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>An agent may retain:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>50 cents for each recreational crabbing license issued by the agent; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>$1.50 for each recreational crabbing boat license issued by the agent.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>