EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0857*
HOUSE BILL 857
M2 4lr1630
CF SB 879
By: Delegate D. Jones
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 26, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Shellfish Aquaculture – Harvest Hours 2
FOR the purpose of repealing a certain restriction on the hours for harvesting shellfish 3
from certain areas leased for aquaculture; requiring the Department of Natural 4
Resources to establish by regulation the hours for harvesting shellfish within leased 5
areas; and generally relating to shellfish aquaculture. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Natural Resources 8
Section 4–11A–10 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Natural Resources 14
4–11A–10. 15
(a) A leaseholder shall: 16
(1) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, actively use the lease and 17
comply with any standards for planting, harvesting, and use of the leased area established 18
by the Department; 19 2 HOUSE BILL 857
(2) Mark each lease area with an 8–inch by 12–inch marker displaying the 1
initials of the leaseholder and posted on a minimum of four poles; 2
(3) Comply with any other marking requirements established by the 3
Department for the protection of navigation; 4
(4) Comply with the regulations established by the Maryland Department 5
of Health in consultation with the Department of the Environment to carry out the mandate 6
of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program; and 7
(5) Pay the rent and the aquaculture development surcharge for the lease 8
at the time established by the Department. 9
(b) The Department may waive the requirements for active use of a lease on a 10
showing that conditions not present at the time of execution of the lease, including the 11
unavailability of shellfish seed, prevent active use of the leased area. 12
(c) A leaseholder may not: 13
(1) Place shellfish, bags, nets, or structures on submerged aquatic 14
vegetation without prior written approval from the Department; 15
(2) Plant or harvest shellfish within 500 yards of any stationary blind or 16
blind site that is occupied and being used for hunting migratory waterfowl; 17
(3) Sublease a lease; 18
(4) Transfer a lease without the approval of the Department; 19
(5) Harvest shellfish [between the hours of sunset and sunrise] OUTSIDE 20
THE HOURS ESTABLISHE D BY THE DEPARTMENT IN REGULAT ION; or 21
(6) Place unlawfully harvested oysters on a lease. 22
(c–1) In approving the placement of shellfish, bags, nets, or structures on 23
submerged aquatic vegetation under subsection (c)(1) of this section, the Department: 24
(1) May not authorize harvesting by dredge in areas where submerged 25
aquatic vegetation is present; 26
(2) Shall authorize for water column leases the placement of shellfish, 27
bags, nets, or structures in at least 10% of the area where submerged aquatic vegetation is 28
present; and 29
(3) Shall authorize harvest by diving in areas on any submerged land lease 30
where submerged aquatic vegetation is present. 31 HOUSE BILL 857 3
(d) Shellfish planted or harvested in accordance with a lease issued under this 1
subtitle are subject to inspection by the Department. 2
(e) (1) A person who wishes to renew a lease issued under this subtitle or an 3
existing shellfish lease or oyster lease shall submit an application that meets the 4
requirements for an initial application in § 4–11A–09 or § 4–11A–11 of this subtitle. 5
(2) Before the termination or expiration of a lease issued under this 6
subtitle, the leaseholder shall have the right of first refusal with respect to future leases of 7
the leased area. 8
(f) (1) The Department may terminate a lease issued under this subtitle for 9
failure to comply with the requirements of this subtitle. 10
(2) The Department shall notify a leaseholder by registered mail of its 11
intention and proposed decision to terminate a lease for failure to comply with the 12
requirements of this subtitle. 13
(3) A leaseholder who wishes to contest the Department’s proposed 14
decision may request a review of the decision by the Secretary, which shall be filed not later 15
than 30 days after receipt of the Department’s decision. 16
(4) Failure of a leaseholder to respond to the Department’s proposed 17
decision within 30 days of the date of the decision shall cause the leasehold to revert to the 18
State. 19
(G) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE AQUACULTURE COORDINATING COUNCIL, 20
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH BY REGULATION THE HOURS FOR 21
HARVESTING SHELLFISH WITHIN LEA SED AREAS. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 23
1, 2024. 24
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.