EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1249*
HOUSE BILL 1249
M2 EMERGENCY BILL 5lr3459
CF SB 960
By: Delegates Jacobs, Adams, Arentz, Ghrist, and Hutchinson
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Natural Resources – Blue Catfish – Population Control 2
FOR the purpose of establishing that regulations of the Department of Natural Resources 3
governing the catching of blue catfish shall establish a certain pilot program, shall 4
authorize the use of finfish trotlines of up to a certain length, may not set a limit on 5
the number of hooks used, and shall authorize the use of certain hooks; and generally 6
relating to blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Natural Resources 9
Section 4–701.2 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Natural Resources 15
4–701.2. 16
(a) There is a commercial blue and flathead catfish finfish trotline license. 17
(b) (1) The license authorizes the holder to catch for sale blue and flathead 18
catfish in the tidal waters of the State using a finfish trotline, as defined in Department 19
regulations. 20
(2) (I) A licensee shall fish in accordance with Department regulations. 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1249
(II) FOR CATCHING BLUE CAT FISH, THE DEPARTMENT ’S 1
REGULATIONS : 2
1. SHALL ESTABLISH A PILOT PR OGRAM AUTHORIZING 3
THE USE OF ELECTROFI SHING; 4
2. SHALL AUTHORIZE THE U SE OF FINFISH TROTLI NES 5
OF UP TO 2,400 FEET IN LENGTH ; 6
3. MAY NOT SET A LIMIT O N THE NUMBER OF HOOK S 7
USED; AND 8
4. SHALL AUTHORIZE THE U SE OF HOOKS THAT ARE NOT 9
CORRODIBLE . 10
(c) A person who wishes to obtain the license shall complete and submit an 11
application for the license to the Department or any person designated by the Department. 12
(d) An applicant for the license does not need to hold a tidal fish license under § 13
4–701 of this subtitle to be eligible for the license. 14
(e) The term of the license is 1 year from September 1 through August 31 the 15
following year. 16
(f) The annual license fee is $15. 17
(g) A licensee may not transfer a license issued under this section. 18
(h) A licensee shall have a commercial blue and flathead catfish finfish trotline 19
license in the licensee’s possession when the licensee fishes under the license. 20
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That on or before September 1, 21
2025, the Department of Agriculture shall issue a report to the General Assembly, in 22
accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, outlining needs and best 23
practices for: 24
(1) collecting harvested blue catfish; 25
(2) processing harvested blue catfish; 26
(3) marketing blue catfish to private and government merchants; and 27
(4) financing these needs and best practices. 28
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 29
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 30 HOUSE BILL 1249 3
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 1
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 2
enacted. 3