EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0207*
SENATE BILL 207
M2 4lr0825
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 19
By: Senator Bailey
Requested: October 3, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Natural Resources – Northern Snakehead – Common Name 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the common name of the northern snakehead as the 3
“Patuxent Fish”; and generally relating to the common name of the northern 4
snakehead. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Natural Resources 7
Section 4–701.1 and 4–714(f) 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Natural Resources 13
4–701.1. 14
(a) There is a commercial northern snakehead OR PATUXENT FISH license. 15
(b) (1) The license authorizes the holder to catch for sale northern snakeheads, 16
COMMONLY KNOWN AS PATUXENT FISH, in the tidal waters of the State using: 17
(i) A bow and arrow attached to a retrieval line; or 18
(ii) Hook and line. 19
2 SENATE BILL 207
(2) A licensee may not fish with a bow and arrow under the license within 1
100 yards of: 2
(i) Another person or vessel; 3
(ii) A public or private swimming area; 4
(iii) A diver down flag; or 5
(iv) An occupied offshore stationary blind. 6
(c) An applicant for a license does not need to hold a tidal fish license under § 7
4–701 of this subtitle to be eligible for the license. 8
(d) A person who wishes to obtain a license shall complete and submit an 9
application for the license to the Department or any person designated by the Department. 10
(e) The term of the license is 1 year from September 1 through August 31 of the 11
following year. 12
(f) The annual license fee is $15. 13
(g) A licensee may not transfer a license issued under this section. 14
(h) A licensee who fishes for northern snakehead OR PATUXENT FISH under the 15
license shall possess the license. 16
4–714. 17
(f) Subject to Department regulations, a person may use archery equipment to 18
fish for northern snakehead, COMMONLY KNOWN AS PATUXENT FISH, in Anne Arundel 19
County waters. 20
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That , on or before January 1, 2025, 21
the Department of Natural Resources shall: 22
(1) adopt regulations establishing the common name of the northern 23
snakehead as the “Patuxent Fish”; and 24
(2) refer to the northern snakehead as the “Patuxent Fish” on all applicable 25
material published by the Department. 26
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 27
October 1, 2024. 28