<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 08.02.04.03" title_num="08" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="04" heading="Catching Oysters for Commercial Purposes.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Season, Days, and Catch Limits.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The season for catching oysters and the days of the week that an individual may catch oysters for commercial purposes shall be established for each gear type, and may be modified, through a public notice issued in accordance with Regulation .11 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The daily commercial catch limits shall be established for each gear type, and may be modified, through a public notice issued in accordance with Regulation .11 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Department shall issue a public notice that establishes the parameters described in §A(1) and (2) of this regulation for the commercial oyster fishery not later than July 1 of each year.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Lawful Methods. A person may catch oysters for commercial purposes only by shaft tong, patent tong, diving apparatus, dredge boat, dredge boat propelled by means of an auxiliary yawl boat, or power dredge.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Times for Catching.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>During an open season in November and December, a person may catch oysters for commercial purposes only from:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Sunrise until sunset when using shaft tong, patent tong, diving apparatus, dredge boat, or dredge boat propelled by means of an auxiliary yawl boat; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Sunrise until 3 p.m. when using a power dredge.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Except as described in §C(1) of this regulation, during an open season a person may catch oysters for commercial purposes only from:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Sunrise until 3 p.m. when using shaft tong, patent tong, dredge boat, diving apparatus, or power dredge; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Sunrise until sunset when using a dredge boat propelled by means of an auxiliary yawl boat.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An individual who harvests oysters for commercial purposes shall deliver oysters:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>To a person who is licensed and certified to sell shellfish by the Maryland Department of Health in accordance with COMAR 10.15.04 and 10.15.07; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Not later than 9 p.m. on the same day of harvest.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>A person may not land or possess oysters on a vessel more than 2 hours after sunset or anytime before sunrise.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>An individual shall notify the Natural Resources Police when there is an emergency which would prevent compliance with the times specified in §§C and D of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Oysters may only be sold in accordance with COMAR 08.02.08.02.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>In addition to the requirements of this chapter, a commercial licensee shall harvest oysters in accordance with the National Shellfish Sanitation Program Model Ordinance that is incorporated by reference by the Maryland Department of Health in COMAR 10.15.07.01A.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>