<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" citation="COMAR 08.02.25.07" title_num="08" subtitle_num="02" chapter_num="25" heading="Commercial — Pound Nets.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Definitions.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>For purposes of this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Co-user” means an individual who is:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Properly licensed in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-701, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Designated in writing to the Department by the registrant; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Authorized to harvest fish from the specified pound net site.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Registrant” means the individual who registered the pound net site and owns the pound net.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Pound Net Sites.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An individual may not set a pound net in State waters unless:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The individual has submitted a completed registration form provided by the Department;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The individual is properly licensed in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-701, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The site is approved by the Department;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The site is registered in the individual’s name; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The individual has notified the Department of the setting of the net in compliance with §E of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An individual may not register more than eight pound net sites with the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The pound net site registrant shall notify the Department in writing to cancel a pound net site registration.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A pound net set at a registered site by the registrant has priority over other commercial finfish gear with regard to any distance requirements set forth in Natural Resources Article, §4-711, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>A commercial tidal fish licensee that intends to use a pound net to harvest striped bass shall comply with the additional structural requirements described in COMAR 08.02.15.04.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>The Department may approve the permanent transfer of a registered pound net site upon completion of the appropriate transfer application and pound net site registration.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>The Department may revoke the registration of a pound net site for cause, including but not limited to, the revocation or lapse of the registrant’s commercial tidal fish license.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Co-Users.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A registrant may designate one or more co-users for each pound net site by completing a form provided by the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A registrant may designate or remove a co-user at any time during the year.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A co-user shall display their commercial identification number on the designated pound net.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A co-user is authorized to harvest fish only from the specified pound net site.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Marking of Pound Nets. The registrant shall mark the pound net while the stakes are in the water, regardless of whether the nets are attached, as follows:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The stake at the head of a pound net shall be marked by a light that is functional between sunset and sunrise, which shall be:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Placed on the stake at least 6 feet above normal high water; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Visible in all directions for at least 1 mile on a clear night; or</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The stake of a pound net shall be marked with retro-reflective tape, as specified by the Department, which is placed on the stake at least 6 feet above normal high water in the following areas and manner:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>On all State waters, except for Potomac River tributaries:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The stake at each end of the pound net shall be marked with three 4-inch bands of orange retro-reflective tape which do not overlap; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The stakes between the two end stakes, at intervals not greater than 150 feet apart, shall be marked with a single 4-inch band of white retro-reflective tape; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>On Potomac River tributaries:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The end stake closest to the channel and on the right side of channel when entering from a seaward direction, shall be marked with three 4-inch bands of red retro-reflective tape, which do not overlap, and the opposite end stake shall be marked with three 4-inch bands of green retro-reflective tape which do not overlap;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The end stake closest to the channel and on the left side of the channel when entering from a seaward direction shall be marked with three 4-inch bands of green retro-reflective tape which do not overlap, and the opposite end stake shall be marked with three 4-inch bands of red retro-reflective tape which do not overlap; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>At least three stakes between the two end stakes, at intervals not greater than 150 feet apart, shall be marked with a single 4-inch band of white retro-reflective tape.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Pound Net Activity Notification.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A pound net site may be activated by the registrant for:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A full license year beginning on July 15 immediately prior to the license year; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The remainder of the license year at any point during the license year.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The registrant shall ensure that written notice is received by the Department at least 7 days prior to setting any pound net.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Notification shall be on a form provided by the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Pound Net Soak Time Limits.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>During the time period of January through June, pound nets shall be fished at the interval set by the Department in a public notice, with all entrapped striped bass released.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Secretary shall publish such notice on the Department’s website no later than December 1 of the year preceding the soak time limit provision taking effect.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>