UNOFFICIAL
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Terrapin Regulation -
The
purpose of this action is to make changes to existing terrapin regulations
consistent with the recommendations of the Maryland Diamondback Terrapin Task
Force. The status of the terrapin statewide is undetermined but is in decline
in some areas. The regulations provide increased State protection.
The proposed action would
change the diamondback terrapin size limit from a minimum 6 inches to a minimum
4 inches and a maximum of 7 inches to protect more of the larger, mature
females. The closed season would expand from May 1 through July 31 to November
1 through July 31. The period of legal capture would be reduced from 9 months
to 3 months. By extending the closed season, overwintering, breeding, and
egg-laying periods would be protected. A permit would be established for all
commercial harvesters of terrapin with mandatory reporting for each permittee.
Turtle excluder devices are required in recreational crab pots and this
regulation references this excluder device requirement in regulation 08.02.03.07 .
If
adopted, the emergency regulation will read as follows:
08.02.06.02
A. Size. A person may not catch or possess a
diamondback terrapin, whether it was caught within the State or within any
other state, territory, or country, that is less than 4 inches or greater than
7 inches in length measured across the greatest length of the free edges of the
plastron parallel to the midline from the front of the diamondback terrapin to
the back.
B. Eggs. A person may not possess, destroy,
or disturb in any manner diamondback terrapin eggs.
C. Season. A person may not take or possess
diamondback terrapin during the period from November 1 through July 31.
D. Pets. The provisions of this regulation
relating to size and season do not apply to a person who owns not more than
three diamondback terrapins kept as pets.
E.
Permits. A person catching
diamondback terrapins for commercial purposes must hold a valid diamondback
terrapin permit issued by the Department
of Natural Resources and be licensed to fish for commercial purposes in
accordance with Natural Resources Article, §§4-701 and 4-902, Annotated Code of
Maryland.
1. Permits issued by the Department shall be valid beginning on August 1 and expiring on October 31 each year.
2. Applications for permits must be received between June 1 and July 31 of each calendar year.
3. Permits issued by the Department are not transferable.
4. A person permitted by the
Department to harvest diamondback terrapin shall record the harvest of
diamondback terrapin on the permit and on the Daily Commercial Fisheries Catch
Log and submit the information to the Department by December 1 following the
permitted season.
F. All crab pots set for recreational purposes
shall be equipped with a turtle reduction device as required in 08.02.03.07B.