Maryland Oyster Season 2015-2016

Maryland's 2015-2016 oyster season opened October 1st in Maryland. For the first month of the season, only hand tonging, patent tonging and diving are permitted.

Oyster harvesting is expected to increase when watermen begin power and sail dredging on Nov. 1. Maryland's oyster season runs from Oct. 1 through March 31.

Maryland’s watermen harvested a total of 393,588 bushels with a dockside value of $17.3 million in 2014-2015.

The 2014 Fall Oyster Survey indicated that the oyster population is continuing to hold steady.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Maryland Fee Reductions

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently released a series of fee reduction proposals, following Governor Larry Hogan’s announcement that the state is eliminating or reducing $51 million in state-issued fees.

Fee Reduction Highlights: 

Golden Age Pass holders will no longer have to pay a fee to use state park boat launches or ramps. The pass entitles Maryland adults, ages 62 and older, to a lifetime of free day-use entry into all state parks, as well as half price camping Sunday through Thursday.

The Forest Product Operator Licensing Fee, which requires renewal every year, will be reduced from $30 to $20 a year.

The Certified Tree Expert Licensing Fee, which requires renewal every two years, will be reduced from $25 to $20.

The Forest Conservation & Management Program Property Fee, which requires participating landowners to pay a $50 fee plus an additional .22 percent enrollment fee on assessed woodland value, will be simplified to a flat $50 fee.

The Game Husbandry Licensing Fee, which requires renewal every year, will be reduced from $10 to $5 a year.


source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

2015 Maryland Teal Season

green winged teal

Maryland's September teal hunting season will open on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 and continue through Wednesday, September 30, 2015.

September Teal Season Highlights:

Shooting hours are one half-hour before sunrise to sunset
   
The daily bag limit is six teal (blue or green-winged)

The possession limit for teal is three times the daily bag limit

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s annual Breeding Waterfowl and Habitat Survey recorded about 8.5 million blue-winged teal and 4.1 million green-winged teal in 2015.

For more information about Maryland hunting seasons and regulations, visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website.

Geological and Geophysical Surveys Public Meeting (Offshore Maryland)

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is holding an open house to provide citizens with an overview of the Geological and Geophysical (G&G) Permitting Process, and get feedback on G&G activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.

The meetings will take place April 1 in Annapolis --  from 3-4:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. -- at the Doubletree by Hilton (210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, 21401).

For more information, visit http://boem.gov/Atlantic-G-and-G-Permitting.

2014 Maryland Free Fishing Days

Maryland Free Fishing Days:
June 7, 14 and July 4, 2014

Maryland's 2014 free fishing days are June 7, June 14 and July 4. No fishing license, stamp or registration is required to recreationally fish in State waters on these days.

Maryland also features 23 unique license-free fishing areas, where anglers can fish without a license throughout the year. However, a free Maryland Saltwater Angler Registration is required in these areas except on free fishing days.

As always, anglers must adhere to fishing regulations, including size and possession limits, which are available online in the digital 2014 Maryland Fishing Guide. Printed copies of the guide are offered at most Maryland tackle shops and any of the seven Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Service Centers.

Anglers 15 years and younger do not need a license to fish, year-round.

source: Department of Natural Resources

2013 Maryland Deer Season

Maryland's firearm deer season opens Saturday, November 30 and runs through December 14, 2013. During the two week season, hunters who possess a valid hunting license or are exempt from the Maryland hunting license requirements may use firearms to hunt white-tailed and sika deer.

Maryland deer hunting regulations can be found on the DNR website. The 2013-14 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping also contains detailed information about all of Maryland’s hunting seasons.

Deer hunters are encouraged to donate any extra deer they may harvest to the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program. The deer are processed at participating butchers and processors free of charge and the venison is then given to local food banks.

For more information, contact the Wildlife & Heritage Service at 410-260-8540.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

2013-2014 Maryland Migratory Game Bird Seasons

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced the the state's 2013-2014 early migratory game bird hunting seasons. Dove season marks the traditional start of hunting activity each year in Maryland.

Dove, split season

First Season: September 2 – October 5

Second Season: November 6 – 29

Third Season: December 21 – January 1


Woodcock, split season

First Season: October 31- November 29

Second Season: January 11 – 25

Early resident Canada goose season

Eastern zone: September 2 – 14

Western zone: September 2 – 25


Teal, September season

September 16 – 30

Hunters are encouraged to report banded migratory game birds by calling 1-800-327-BAND (2263) or online at www.reportband.gov.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Maryland Waterfowl Regulations Meeting

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will hold a public meeting to discuss the proposed late season waterfowl hunting regulations at 7 p.m. on August 19 at Chesapeake College.

The proposed seasons and bag limits will be announced in early August after DNR receives the framework from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

source: MD DNR

2013 Maryland Freshwater Trout Regulations

In Maryland, a number of new trout fishing regulations are in effect for the 2013 fishing season.

 - Lion’s Park Pond in Allegany County and Avalon Pond (Lost Lake) in Baltimore County are now Put-and-Take Trout Fishing areas with access for anglers of all ages (local restrictions may still apply).

 - A section of Catoctin Creek within Catoctin Creek Park (Frederick County) has been designated as a Delayed Harvest Trout Fishing Area.

 - Governor Bridge Natural Area Pond (Prince George’s County) is now a limited harvest area.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

2013 Maryland Spring Turkey Hunting Season

The 2013 Maryland spring turkey season begins with Junior Turkey Hunts on April 13 on public or private land statewide, and April 14 on private land in Caroline, Dorchester, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties.

Maryland's spring turkey season runs from April 18 through May 23 statewide.

Junior Turkey Hunts allow licensed youth ages 16 and under to hunt wild turkeys when accompanied by an unarmed adult, 21 and older, who holds a valid Maryland hunting license, or is exempt from the hunting license requirements. Adults may not possess a bow, crossbow or firearm while accompanying a youth hunter during the junior hunt.

Regulations, turkey check-in procedures, and information on public land hunting opportunities can be found at dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide or in the 2012-2013 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping.

source: MD DNR

2013 Maryland Summer Flounder Regulations

2013 Maryland flounder regulations have been set by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Recreational anglers will be allowed to keep up to 4 summer flounder per person per day. The minimum size is 16 inches in all Maryland state waters. In Maryland, the flounder season will begin statewide at 12:01am, Thursday, March 28th, 2013.

The fishery is expected to remain open through 11:59 pm December 31, 2013, however DNR could close the recreational season early if projections indicate the recreational harvest target will be caught before December 31, 2013.

source: MD DNR

New Maryland ORV Permit Locations

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently announced that off-road vehicle (ORV) permits will be offered at three new locations.

Effective January 19, 2013, ORV permits will be available for purchase at Deep Creek Lake and New Germany State parks. The permits will also be offered at Savage River State Forest, beginning on January 22.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Maryland Boat Noise Regulations

New boat noise regulations affect boaters on Deep Creek Lake, the Bohemia River, the Elk and Northeast Rivers and tributaries, and the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake & Delaware (C&D) Canal. The State is providing citizens with free tests to determine if their boat is within the legal limit.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) will be conducting courtesy tests so boaters may determine if their vessel meets regulation guidelines.

Testing dates, times and locations are being scheduled and will be listed at dnr.state.md.us/boating/  and dnr.state.md.us/nrp/.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) established the regulations, which went into effect November 28, 2011, because of increasing citizen concern in these areas.

For the 2012 boating season, regulations prohibit boats with mufflers and muffler cut-out systems from exceeding the following noise levels.

* For engines manufactured before January 1, 1993, the noise level may not exceed 90 decibels (a).

* Those manufactured on or after January 1, 1993, the noise level may not exceed 88 decibels (a).

Boats manufactured after January 1990 must operate with a continuous muffler system and and may not operate a device that bypasses, reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of a muffler or noise suppression device or system.

The full regulation is located in COMAR 08.18.03 and may be accessed from the Maryland Division of State Documents website.

source: MD DNR

Maryland Local Foods Labelling Regulations

Maryland recently published revised proposed rules regulating the advertising of "local" foods in the Maryland Register for public comment.

The regulations were drafted by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) as part of a 2010 state law that seeks to bring clarity to consumers as to what constitutes "local". After reviewing initial comments, MDA has redrafted the regulations.

According to MDA, food products are adverted as 'local', the proposed regulations will require businesses to disclose the product's origin.

The law authorizes the Secretary to regulate the use of the terms "local" or "locally grown" when used to advertise agricultural and seafood products.  It aims to support Maryland farmers and provide transparency to consumers interested in purchasing local foods by informing Marylanders about their local foods purchases. 

The law was drafted in response to increased interest in locally produced foods. Local food trends have led to the rapid growth of farmer's markets, as well as demand for local products in restaurants and grocery stores.  Despite the popularity, there has been little agreement as to the definition of "local" foods.

Input for the proposal originated from a task force of farmers, retail representatives, consumer advocates, and other interested stakeholders.

The redrafted regulations require businesses that advertise raw meat, eggs, fish, fruits, vegetables, shellfish and processed dairy products as local or being locally grown, regionally grown or produced, or otherwise represented as having originated close by, must have point-of-sale signage indicating the state of its origin.

A "Frequently Asked Questions" document is available online at: http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/buylocalfaq.pdf

The Maryland Register entry can be viewed at:

http://www.dsd.state.md.us/MDRegister/mdregister.aspx

source: MDA press release

Maryland Law Defines Local Produce and Seafood

Proposed rules regulating the advertising of "local" foods have been published in the Maryland Register and are available for public comment. The regulations were drafted by MDA as part of a new Maryland law which seeks to bring clarity to consumers as to what constitutes local.

The law authorizes the Secretary to regulate the use of the terms "local" or "locally grown" when used to advertise agricultural and seafood products.  It aims to support Maryland farmers and provide transparency to consumers interested in purchasing local foods by informing Marylanders about their local foods purchases.

In recent years, interest in locally produced foods has surged, leading to the rapid growth of farmer's markets, and the appearance of Maryland products in restaurants and grocery stores.  However, there has been little agreement as to the definition of "local" foods.  A task force of farmers, retail representatives, consumer advocates, and other interested stakeholders provided input for the proposal.

The 2010 Policy Choices Survey by the University of Baltimore Schaefer Center for Public Policy found that 78 percent of Marylanders are more likely to buy produce that is identified as having been grown by a Maryland farmer.

New MD Law Bans Cell Phone Use While Driving

Effective October 1, using a hand-held cell phone while operating a motor vehicle on a street or highway in Maryland is prohibited.  Phone calls placed to 911, ambulance, hospital, fire or law-enforcement agencies are permitted, as are calls made by emergency and law-enforcement personnel.

NOTE:  Drivers under the age of 18 already are prohibited from using cell phones while driving.

The fine for the first offense is $40 and subsequent offenses are $100.  Points are not assessed to the first-time violator's driving record, except three points are assessed if the violation contributes to a crash.  If a violator has a second or subsequent offense, he or she receives one point plus the fine.

The new law is a secondary offense -- a driver must first be detained for another offense, such as speeding or negligent driving, before he or she can be ticketed for a cell phone offense.  Negligent driving IS a primary offense in Maryland and can be used as a precursor to citing violators of the new cell phone law.

The National Safety Council estimates that cell phone use is responsible for 1.6 million crashes a year, nationally -- about 28 percent of all crashes.

Maryland one of several states (Calif., Conn., Del., N.J., N.Y., Ore. and Wash.), Washington D.C. and the Virgin Islands that have banned hand-held cell phone use while driving. For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov

Commercial Limited Crab Catcher (LCC) License Buy-Back Program Ends August 31

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding watermen and license holders that the August 31 deadline to submit a bid for the commercial Limited Crab Catcher (LCC) License Buy-Back Program is fast approaching. This voluntary program is in keeping with DNR’s effort to effectively manage Maryland’s blue crab population. Crabbers may receive $2,260 per license, and DNR’s goal is to permanently buy back 2,000 of the latent and active 3,676 LCC licenses.

DNR implemented the buy-back program in response to public feedback. Support for the program came from $15 million in Federal Crab Disaster Funds obtained through the efforts of U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski and the Maryland Delegation to help watermen and to foster restoration solutions for the crabbing industry in Maryland.

source: DNR