# COMAR Title 08 — Department of Natural Resources

## Subtitle 02 — Fisheries Service

### Chapter 12 — Endangered and Threatened Fish Species

**Authority:** Natural Resources Article, §4-2A-01 et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: January 1, 1985 (11:26 Md. R. 2278)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01 amended effective September 3, 1990 (17:17 Md. R. 2077)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01C amended as an emergency provision effective March 1, 1993 (20:6 Md. R. 577); emergency status expired August 1, 1993

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01C amended effective August 16, 1993 (20:16 Md. R. 1276); December 19, 1994 (21:25 Md. R. 2104); February 27, 1995 (22:4 Md. R. 236)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01C amended and D repealed as an emergency provision effective June 1, 1999 (26:13 Md. R. 1016); amended permanently effective September 6, 1999 (26:18 Md. R. 1375)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01C amended as an emergency provision effective January 8, 2001 (28:2 Md. R. 96); amended permanently effective April 16, 2001 (28:7 Md. R. 688)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01C amended as an emergency provision effective June 1, 2003 (30:13 Md. R. 851); amended permanently effective August 18, 2003 (30:16 Md. R. 1074)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01D adopted effective October 20, 1997 (24:21 Md. R. 1448)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02 amended effective December 19, 1994 (21:25 Md. R. 2104)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02A and B amended effective September 3, 1990 (17:17 Md. R. 2077)

**Administrative History:** Chapter revised effective February 13, 2006 (33:3 Md. R. 240)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01B amended effective February 17, 2025 (52:3 Md. R. 159)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .03 amended effective March 4, 2013 (40:4 Md. R. 344)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .03A amended as an emergency provision effective June 17, 2013 (40:15 Md. R. 1225); emergency status extended to September 2, 2013 (40:19 Md. R. 1539)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .03 amended effective September 2, 2013 (40:17 Md. R. 1419); March 3, 2014 (41:4 Md. R. 299)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .03A amended effective September 12, 2016 (43:18 Md. R. 1017); March 26, 2018 (45:6 Md. R. 318); December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1040); February 17, 2025 (52:3 Md. R. 159)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .03C amended effective February 11, 2008 (35:3 Md. R. 288); August 24, 2009 (36:17 Md. R. 1312); June 28, 2010 (37:13 Md. R. 851)

#### Regulation .01 Definitions.

*COMAR 08.02.12.01*

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

  (1) “Endangered species” means any species whose continued existence as a viable component of the State's fish resources is determined to be in jeopardy, including any species of fish determined to be an “endangered species” pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. §§1531—1543.

  (2) “Species in need of conservation” means any species which:

    (a) May become threatened in the foreseeable future;

    (b) Has a limited or declining population; and

    (c) Has been determined by the Secretary to be in need of conservation measures for its continued ability to sustain itself successfully.

  (3) “Threatened species” means any species of fish which appears likely, within the foreseeable future, to become endangered, including any species of fish determined to be a “threatened species” pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. §§1531—1543.

#### Regulation .02 Factors for Endangered or Threatened Determination.

*COMAR 08.02.12.02*

A. Determination Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.

  (1) Any species of fish determined to be an endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act shall be considered an endangered species under the provisions of this subtitle.

  (2) Any species of fish determined to be a threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act shall be considered a threatened species under the provisions of this subtitle.

  (3) The Secretary may determine, in accordance with this regulation, that any threatened species is an endangered species throughout all or any portion of the range of the species within the State.

B. Determination Pursuant to Other Factors. In addition to the species considered to be endangered or threatened pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, the Secretary, by rule or regulation, shall determine whether any species of fish normally occurring within the State is an endangered or threatened species due to any of the following factors:

  (1) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range;

  (2) Overutilization for commercial, sporting, scientific, educational, or other purposes;

  (3) Disease or predation;

  (4) The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or

  (5) Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence within the State.

#### Regulation .03 Listing of Species.

*COMAR 08.02.12.03*

A. The following species are listed as in need of conservation:

  (1) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis);

  (2) American shad (Alosa sapidissima);

  (3) Hickory shad (Alosa mediocris);

  (4) Yellow perch (Perca flavescens);

  (5) American oyster (Crassostrea virginica);

  (6) Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus);

  (7) All species of shark in the order:

    (a) Carcharhiniformes

    (b) Hexanchiformes;

    (c) Lamniformes;

    (d) Orectolobiformes;

    (e) Squaliformes; and

    (f) Squatiniformes;

  (8) Conch:

    (a) Knobbed whelk (Busycon carica),

    (b) Channel whelk (Busycotypus canaliculatus), and

    (c) Lightning whelk (Busycotypus sinistrum);

  (9) Scup (Stenotomus chrysops);

  (10) Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus);

  (11) Monkfish (Lophius americanus);

  (12) Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias);

  (13) Swordfish (Xiphias gladius);

  (14) Billfish:

    (a) Atlantic Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans);

    (b) Atlantic White Marlin (Kajikia albidus);

    (c) Atlantic Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus); and

    (d) Roundscale Spearfish (Tetrapturus georgii);

  (15) Walleye (Sander vitreus);

  (16) Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians);

  (17) Snapper Grouper Complex:

    (a) Queen snapper (Etelis oculatus);

    (b) Yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus);

    (c) Gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus);

    (d) Mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis);

    (e) Lane snapper (Lutjanus synagris);

    (f) Cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus);

    (g) Dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu);

    (h) Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus);

    (i) Mahogany snapper (Lutjanus mahogoni);

    (j) Vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens);

    (k) Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus);

    (l) Silk snapper (Lutjanus vivanus);

    (m) Blackfin snapper (Lutjanus buccanella);

    (n) Black snapper (Apsilus dentatus);

    (o) Red porgy (Pagrus pagrus);

    (p) Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus);

    (q) Knobbed porgy (Calamus nodosus);

    (r) Jolthead porgy (Calamus bajonado);

    (s) Whitebone porgy (Calamus leucosteus);

    (t) Saucereye porgy (Calamus calamus);

    (u) Grass porgy (Calamus arctifrons);

    (v) Longspine porgy (Stenotomus caprinus);

    (w) White grunt (Haemulon plumieri);

    (x) Black margate (Anistotremus surinamensis);

    (y) Margate (Haemulon album);

    (z) Tomtate (Haemulon aurolineatum);

    (aa) Sailor's choice (Haemulon parra);

    (bb) Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus);

    (cc) Bluestriped grunt (Haemulon sciurus);

    (dd) French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum);

    (ee) Cottonwick (Haemulon melanurum);

    (ff) Spanish grunt (Haemulon macrostomum);

    (gg) Smallmouth grunt (Haemulon chrysargeryum);

    (hh) Greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili);

    (ii) Crevalle jack (Caranx hippos);

    (jj) Blue runner (Caranx crysos);

    (kk) Almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana);

    (ll) Banded rudderfish (Seriola zonanta);

    (mm) Bar jack (Caranx ruber);

    (nn) Lesser amberjack (Seriola fasciata);

    (oo) Yellow jack (Caranx bartholomaei);

    (pp) Gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus);

    (qq) Ocean triggerfish (Canthidermis sufflamen);

    (rr) Queen triggerfish (Balistes vetula);

    (ss) Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus);

    (tt) Puddingwife (Halichoeres radiates);

    (uu) Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber);

    (vv) Black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci);

    (ww) Coney (Cephalopholis fulva);

    (xx) Gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis);

    (yy) Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara);

    (zz) Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata);

    (aaa) Misty grouper (Epinephelus mystacinus);

    (bbb) Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus);

    (ccc) Red grouper (Epinephelus morio);

    (ddd) Red hind (Epinephelus guttatus);

    (eee) Rock hind (Epinephelus adscensionis);

    (fff) Scamp (Mycteroperca phenax);

    (ggg) Snowy grouper (Epinephelus niveatus);

    (hhh) Speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi);

    (iii) Tiger grouper (Mycteroperca tigris);

    (jjj) Warsaw grouper (Epinephelus nigritus);

    (kkk) Wreckfish (Polyprion americanus);

    (lll) Yellowedge grouper (Epinephelus flavolimbatus);

    (mmm) Yellowfin grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa);

    (nnn) Yellowmouth grouper (Mycteroperca interstitialis);

    (ooo) Blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus microps);

    (ppp) Golden tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps); and

    (qqq) Sand tilefish (Malacanthus plumieri);

  (18) Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus);

  (19) Jonah crab (Cancer borealis);

  (20) Cobia (Rachycentron canadum);

  (21) Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus); and

  (22) All species of freshwater mussels in the order Unionoida.

B. The list of endangered and threatened species appears in COMAR 08.03.08.

#### Regulation .04 Prohibitions.

*COMAR 08.02.12.04*

A. Except as authorized by Natural Resources Article, §4-2A-08(a), Annotated Code of Maryland, or by a permit issued by the Secretary under §B of this regulation, a person may not take, possess, transport, export, process, sell, offer for sale, deliver, carry, or ship any fish of the species listed in Regulation .03A and B of this chapter.

B. Permit to Take or Possess Endangered or Threatened Species.

  (1) The Secretary may issue a permit, under the terms and conditions he prescribes, to allow the taking or possession of species listed in Regulation.03A and B of this chapter for:

    (a) Scientific purposes;

    (b) Enhancing the propagation and survival of a species; or

    (c) Aquaculture purposes in accordance with COMAR 08.02.14.

  (2) Violation of any provision or restriction of the permit shall constitute a violation of this regulation and may result, at the discretion of the Secretary, in revocation of the permit and confiscation of those species held pursuant to it.

C. A person may take, possess, transport, export, process, sell, or offer for sale, or ship those species designated as in need of conservation in Regulation .03E of this chapter unless prohibited by regulations adopted by the Department for each individual species.

D. Penalty. Violation of any provision of this regulation is subject to all penalties and actions included in Natural Resources Article, §§4-2A-07 and 4-1207, Annotated Code of Maryland. This may result in seizure of the fishing license and ultimate confiscation of all fish, fishing gear, equipment, and vessel used in the fishing activity.