EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0979*
SENATE BILL 979
M2 2lr3057
SB 437/20 – EHE
By: Senators Salling, Klausmeier, Jennings, West, Lam, Hettleman, Sydnor, and
Kelley
Introduced and read first time: February 18, 2022
Assigned to: Rules
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Prohibition of Dredging on Man–O–War Shoals 2
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from including the 3
dredging of buried oyster shells on Man–O–War Shoals as part of a fishery 4
management plan; prohibiting the Department from dredging buried oyster shells 5
on Man–O–War Shoals; and generally relating to the management of the State’s 6
oyster culture by the Department of Natural Resources. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Natural Resources 9
Section 4–215(b)(6) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 12
BY adding to 13
Article – Natural Resources 14
Section 4–215(e)(6) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 17
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
Article – Natural Resources 19
Section 4–1103(a) 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 22
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 23
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 24
Article – Natural Resources 25 2 SENATE BILL 979
4–215. 1
(b) The Department shall prepare fishery management plans for the following 2
species: 3
(6) Oysters; 4
(e) (6) IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 4–1103 OF THIS TITLE, THE 5
DEPARTMENT MAY NOT IN CLUDE THE DREDGING O F BURIED OYSTER SHEL LS ON 6
MAN–O–WAR SHOALS AS PART OF A F ISHERY MANAGEMENT PL AN. 7
4–1103. 8
(a) (1) [The] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 9
SUBSECTION, THE Department shall take measures which in its judgment seem best 10
calculated to increase the productivity or utility of oyster resources in the State, including: 11
[(1)] (I) Identifying and using effective methods of cleaning diseased 12
oyster bars; 13
[(2)] (II) Providing clean shell for the bars; 14
[(3)] (III) Using hatchery produced oysters to replant sites; and 15
[(4)] (IV) Applying for a permit to dredge buried oyster shells. 16
(2) THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT DR EDGE BURIED OYSTER S HELLS ON 17
MAN–O–WAR SHOALS. 18
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 19
1, 2022. 20