# COMAR Title 08 — Department of Natural Resources

## Subtitle 02 — Fisheries Service

### Chapter 19 — Nuisance and Prohibited Species

#### Regulation .06 Snakehead Prohibitions.

*COMAR 08.02.19.06*

A. Except as authorized by 50 CFR Part 16, a person may not import, transport, or introduce into the State any live fish or viable eggs of snakehead fish of the Family Channidae, including but not limited to:

  (1) African snakehead (Parachanna obscura);

  (2) Bangka snakehead (Channa bankanensis);

  (3) Baram snakehead (Channa baramensis);

  (4) Barca snakehead (Channa barca);

  (5) Black snakehead (Channa melasoma);

  (6) Blackfinned snakehead (Channa melanoptera);

  (7) Blotched snakehead (Channa maculata);

  (8) Bluespotted snakehead (Channa cyanospilos);

  (9) Bullseye snakehead (Channa marulius);

  (10) Burmese snakehead (Channa burmanica);

  (11) Ceylon snakehead (Channa orientalis);

  (12) Chel snakehead (Channa amphibeus);

  (13) Chevron snakehead (Channa striata);

  (14) Chinese snakehead (Channa asiatica);

  (15) Congo snakehead (Parachanna insignis);

  (16) Dwarf snakehead (Channa gachua);

  (17) Emperor snakehead (Channa maruloides);

  (18) Giant snakehead (Channa micropeltes);

  (19) Golden snakehead (Channa stewartii);

  (20) Inle snakehead (Channa harcourtbutleri);

  (21) Niger snakehead (Parachanna africana);

  (22) Night snakehead (Channa nox);

  (23) Northern snakehead (Channa argus);

  (24) Ocellated snakehead (Channa pleurophthalmus);

  (25) Orangespotted snakehead (Channa aurantimaculata);

  (26) Panaw snakehead (Channa panaw);

  (27) Rainbow snakehead (Channa bleheri);

  (28) Splendid snakehead (Channa lucius); and

  (29) Spotted snakehead (Channa punctata).

B. A person may not sell or breed live snakehead fish of the Family Channidae in the State.

C. Except as provided in §D of this regulation, a person may not possess the viable eggs or live snakehead fish of the species:

  (1) Blotched snakehead (Channa maculata); and

  (2) Northern snakehead (Channa argus).

D. Except as described in §E of this regulation, an individual may only possess a snakehead if, immediately upon capture, the snakehead is killed.

E. The Department may issue a permit for the possession of a live snakehead fish for scientific purposes to a properly accredited person of known scientific attainment.