<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".15" citation="COMAR 08.02.03.15" title_num="08" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="03" heading="Crabbing Charters.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>This regulation applies to any trip to catch crabs offered by a tidal fish licensee to an individual or individuals for any form of compensation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Any individual receiving compensation from customers for any trip to catch crabs shall be in possession of the appropriate federal licenses.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>An individual who, in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, is licensed as a fishing guide, is licensed as a master fishing guide or operates a vessel for a master fishing guide and possesses a valid commercial crabbing authorization:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>May carry customers during a commercial crabbing trip;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Shall follow all commercial crabbing rules;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>May not count customers as crew members;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>May sell their catch to a seafood dealer or, if licensed as a seafood dealer in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, to a customer;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Shall report their catch in accordance with COMAR 08.02.13.06; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Shall be penalized for any violation of statute or regulation in accordance with COMAR 08.02.13.03</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Crabbing Charters.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Definition. In this chapter, “crabbing charter” means any guided trip for the purpose of catching crabs recreationally, offered by an individual who, in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-701, Annotated Code of Maryland, is licensed as a fishing guide or master fishing guide, or operates a vessel for a master fishing guide.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Crabbing Charter Decal.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Prior to operating a crabbing charter, a fishing guide shall obtain a crabbing charter decal.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Except as provided in §D(2)(c) of this regulation, a decal issued for a crabbing charter:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Shall be permanently affixed and displayed on either side of the forward half of the vessel for which issued;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Is not transferable;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Shall, when displayed, exempt all persons aboard from the requirement of possessing an individual license to crab recreationally; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Is valid for the current commercial license year.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Exemption for Crabbing Charter Decals. If the crabbing charter 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="(i)">
          <text>The individual who purchased the crabbing charter decal is present on the vessel;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The individual who purchased the crabbing charter decal is in possession of the proof of purchase issued by the Department; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The crabbing charter decal was purchased within the previous 10 calendar days.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A crabbing charter:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>May only be offered by an individual  licensed as a fishing guide or a master fishing guide, or who operates a vessel for a master fishing guide in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-701, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Shall have at least one customer on board;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>May not harvest female hard crabs or female peelers from the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Shall comply with the recreational season, times, size limits, and gear restrictions established in this chapter for a licensed recreational crabber.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Crabs caught on a crabbing charter may not be sold.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Catch Limit. A crabbing charter with one or more customers on board may not catch more than two bushels of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Male hard crabs and two dozen soft crabs or male peeler crabs from the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Crabs from the Atlantic Ocean and its coastal bays.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Reporting. Crabs harvested on a crabbing charter shall be reported on forms provided by the Department and in the time specified by the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Any violation of statute or regulation shall be penalized in accordance with COMAR 08.02.13.08.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>