Md. Code Regs. 08.02.13.09 – Revocation of a Striped Bass or Crab Authorization.

A. Definitions.
1. (1) In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
2. (2) Terms Defined.
  1. (a) Egregious means an offense which displays a wanton disregard for a requirement of the striped bass or crab fishery.
  2. (b) Knowingly means the specific intent to violate a requirement of the striped bass or crab fishery.
  3. (c) Repeat means:
    1. (i) Three or more offenses in the striped bass or crab fishery on separate days in a single season;
    2. (ii) A series of offenses in the striped bass or crab fishery which are part of an ongoing scheme or conspiracy; or
    3. (iii) A series of similar offenses committed over any period of time which collectively display a wanton disregard for the requirements of the striped bass or crab fishery.
B. Knowing, Egregious, and Repeat Offenses.
1. (1) The Department may schedule a hearing to revoke a person’s commercial authorization to catch striped bass or crabs from a person who knowingly commits an offense, commits an egregious offense, or commits repeat offenses in the following categories:
  1. (a) Using illegal gear;
  2. (b) Harvesting during closed seasons;
  3. (c) Harvesting from closed areas;
  4. (d) Violating established harvest, catch, or size limits; and
  5. (e) Violating tagging and reporting requirements.
2. (2) When the Department seeks to revoke a person’s commercial authorization for an egregious offense, the presiding officer shall consider the person’s history of offenses in the striped bass or crab fishery, the amount of striped bass or crabs unlawfully caught, and the following, as appropriate, to determine whether the offense warrants revocation:
  1. (a) The damage or potential damage to natural resources associated with using illegal gear;
  2. (b) Any facts which bear on the egregiousness of a seasonal violation;
  3. (c) The location of a violation in a closed area;
  4. (d) The extent to which the person has exceeded permissible harvest, catch, or size limits; or
  5. (e) The extent of the tagging and reporting violations.
3. (3) If, after a hearing conducted in accordance with State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 2, Annotated Code of Maryland, the presiding officer finds or concludes that a person committed an egregious offense, committed repeat offenses, or knowingly committed an offense described in §B(1) of this regulation, the Department shall revoke that person’s commercial authorization to catch striped bass or crabs.
C. Operating During a Suspension.
1. (1) The Department may schedule a hearing to revoke a person’s commercial authorization to catch striped bass or crabs from a person who violates terms of a suspension as described in COMAR 08.02.13.02.
2. (2) If, after a hearing conducted in accordance with State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 2, Annotated Code of Maryland, the presiding officer finds or concludes that a person committed an offense under §C(1) of this regulation, the Department shall revoke that person’s commercial authorization to catch striped bass or crabs.

Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§4-206, 4-220, 4-701, 4-745, 4-1201, and 4-1210; State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 2; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: October 20, 1986 (13:21 Md. R. 2320)

Regulation .01 amended effective February 27, 1995 (22:4 Md. R. 236); February 14, 2005 (32:3 Md. R. 289)

Regulation .02A amended effective January 2, 2006 (32:26 Md. R. 1996)

Regulation .02D amended effective April 13, 1992 (19:7 Md. R. 744); February 14, 2005 (32:3 Md. R. 289); January 2, 2006 (32:26 Md. R. 1996); November 5, 2007 (34:22 Md. R. 1976); April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 521)

Regulation .03 amended effective February 27, 1995 (22:4 Md. R. 236)

Regulation .03A amended effective February 14, 2005 (32:3 Md. R. 289)

Regulation .03C amended effective May 18, 1987 (14:10 Md. R. 1690); February 14, 2005 (32:3 Md. R. 289); November 5, 2007 (34:22 Md. R. 1976); April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 521)

Regulation .03E adopted effective February 14, 2005 (32:3 Md. R. 289)

Regulation .03E amended effective November 5, 2007 (34:22 Md. R. 1976)

Regulation .04 amended effective February 27, 1995 (22:4 Md. R. 236)

Regulation .04H and I amended effective April 15, 1991 (18:7 Md. R. 772)

Regulation .05 adopted effective February 14, 2005 (32:3 Md. R. 289)

Regulation .05 amended effective November 5, 2007 (34:22 Md. R. 1976)

Regulation .06 adopted effective February 22, 2010 (37:4 Md. R. 338)

Chapter revised effective February 22, 2010 (37:4 Md. R. 340)

Regulation .01 amended effective March 21, 2011 (38:6 Md. R. 393); April 15, 2013 (40:7 Md. R. 609)

Regulation .02 amended effective April 4, 2011 (38:7 Md. R. 429); April 15, 2013 (40:7 Md. R. 609); March 31, 2014 (41:6 Md. R. 377)

Regulation .02B amended as an emergency provision effective July 2, 2011 (38:16 Md. R. 941); emergency status extended to June 20, 2012 (39:1 Md. R. 16); emergency status superseded March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 381)

Regulation .02B amended effective March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 381)

Regulation .03 amended effective April 4, 2011 (38:7 Md. R. 429); March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 381); April 15, 2013 (40:7 Md. R. 609); March 31, 2014 (41:6 Md. R. 377); February 16, 2015 (42:3 Md. R. 314); April 11, 2016 (43:7 Md. R. 448); March 23, 2020 (47:6 Md. R. 340); July 7, 2025 (52:13 Md. R. 655)

Regulation .03C amended effective October 18, 2021 (48:21 Md. R. 889)

Regulation .03C—F, H amended effective July 7, 2025 (52:13 Md. R. 655)

Regulation .03C, H, I amended effective June 26, 2023 (50:12 Md. R. 475)

Regulation .03E, F amended effective November 29, 2010 (37:24 Md. R. 1658)

Regulation .05 amended effective March 21, 2011 (38:6 Md. R. 393); March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 381); April 15, 2013 (40:7 Md. R. 609); February 16, 2015 (42:3 Md. R. 314); April 11, 2016 (43:7 Md. R. 448); March 23, 2020 (47:6 Md. R. 340); October 18, 2021 (48:21 Md. R. 889); August 19, 2024 (51:16 Md. R. 742)

Regulation .05D, E, F amended effective June 26, 2023 (50:12 Md. R. 475); July 7, 2025 (52:13 Md. R. 655); July 7, 2025 (52:13 Md. R. 655)

Regulation .05G, L amended effective March 31, 2014 (41:6 Md. R. 377)

Regulation .05J amended as an emergency provision effective July 2, 2011 (38:16 Md. R. 941); emergency status extended to June 20, 2012 (39:1 Md. R. 16); emergency status superseded March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 381)

Regulation .06 amended effective September 20, 2010 (37:19 Md. R. 1283)

Regulation .06C amended effective July 1, 2019 (46:13 Md. R. 589); October 31, 2022 (49:22 Md. R. 979) ; December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1087)

Regulation .06C, E amended effective April 4, 2011 (38:7 Md. R. 429)

Regulation .06K amended as an emergency provision effective July 2, 2011 (38:16 Md. R. 941); emergency status extended to June 20, 2012 (39:1 Md. R. 16); emergency status superseded March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 381)

Regulation .06K amended effective March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 381)

Regulation .07 adopted effective April 4, 2011 (38:7 Md. R. 429)

Regulation .07 amended effective March 31, 2014 (41:6 Md. R. 377)

Regulation .07A, E amended effective February 16, 2015 (42:3 Md. R. 314)

Regulation .07B amended as an emergency provision effective July 2, 2011 (38:16 Md. R. 941); emergency status extended to June 20, 2012 (39:1 Md. R. 16); emergency status superseded March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 381)

Regulation .07B amended effective March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 381)

Regulation .08 adopted effective April 4, 2011 (38:7 Md. R. 429)

Regulation .08 amended effective March 19, 2012 (39:5 Md. R. 381); April 15, 2013 (40:7 Md. R. 609); February 16, 2015 (42:3 Md. R. 314); April 11, 2016 (43:7 Md. R. 448); March 23, 2020 (47:6 Md. R. 340); July 7, 2025 (52:13 Md. R. 655)

Regulation .08D—G, I amended effective July 7, 2025 (52:13 Md. R. 655)

Regulation .08I amended effective March 31, 2014 (41:6 Md. R. 377)

Regulation .09 adopted as an emergency provision effective August 18, 2011 (38:19 Md. R. 1145); adopted permanently effective October 31, 2011 (38:22 Md. R. 1345)

Regulation .10 adopted effective November 10, 2014 (41:22 Md. R. 1318)

Regulation .10F amended effective June 26, 2023 (50:12 Md. R. 475)

Regulation .10F, J amended effective March 23, 2020 (47:6 Md. R. 340)