PUBLIC NOTICE
MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
FISHERIES SERVICE COMMERCIAL SPINY DOGFISH FISHERY SEASON OPENING, PERMITS AND LANDING LIMITS IN MARYLAND WATERS

The Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces clarifications for the spiny dogfish fishery pursuant to COMAR 08.02.05.24C.
The National Marine Fisheries Service has closed federal waters to commercial spiny dogfish harvest. Spiny dogfish commercial quota for the first semi-annual quota period, May 1, 2010 — October 31, 2010, has been harvested. Vessels issued Federal permits for spiny dogfish may not fish for, possess, transfer, or land any spiny dogfish until 0001 hours, November 1, 2010. States in the Northern Region, Maine through Connecticut, are prohibited from commercial landing, harvest, and possession of spiny dogfish in their state waters because the quota in their region is projected to be harvested.
The spiny dogfish fishery in the Southern Region, which includes Maryland, will remain open in state waters until the area’s quota is harvested. Maryland commercial licensees without a federal spiny dogfish permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) may possess or land in Maryland up to 3000 pounds of spiny dogfish per day per vessel caught from Maryland waters (0 – 3 miles from shore). Federal waters will reopen for commercial harvest on November 1, 2010.

A Maryland commercial licensee with a federal spiny dogfish permit may temporarily relinquish the permit to NMFS in order to possess or land spiny dogfish caught from Maryland waters.

John R. Griffin
Secretary
Maryland Department of Natural Resources



V/R,





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Martin L. Gary

Assistant Director

Fisheries Ecologist

MD DNR Fisheries Service

580 Taylor Avenue Floor B-2

Annapolis, MD 21401

e mail mlgary@dnr.state.md.us

410-260-8289 (office)

410-279-0459 (cell)

410-260-8279 (fax)