Posted Wednesday January 9, 2008

 

The Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources, pursuant to the Code of Maryland Regulations 08.02.05.24, announced that effective 12:01 a.m., Sunday, January 13, 2008, commercial fishing vessels 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 from Maryland waters (0 – 3 miles from shore), but may not harvest spiny dogfish from the federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ; 3 – 200 miles from shore). A commercial fishing vessel with a federal spiny dogfish permit may not possess or land spiny dogfish from the federal EEZ or Maryland waters. An individual may temporarily relinquish their vessel’s federal spiny dogfish permit through NMFS in order to possess or land spiny dogfish from Maryland waters. This action is in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Shark Management Board’s recommendation to allow Atlantic states to establish daily trip limits not to exceed 3000 pounds per vessel per day. This public notice modifies the May 16, 2007 notice on spiny dogfish catch by setting the daily catch limit at 3000 pounds per vessel rather than per fisherman. These daily landings may be modified or the fishery may be closed if the NMFS determines the fishery quota is reached.