PUBLIC NOTICE
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Fishing and Boating Services
2014 Commercial Horseshoe Crab Season

State Wide

The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) pursuant to the Code of Maryland Regulation 08.02.10.01G(3) establishes the quota, season, and catch limits for the commercial horseshoe crab fishery, effective 12:01 a.m. June 13, 2014.

• Quota: The annual total allowable landings of male horseshoe crabs for the commercial fishery is 255,980. There is no female harvest permitted.
• Season:
• June 9, 2014 through July 16, 2014: A person may catch or land horseshoe crabs outside of 1 mile of the Atlantic coast. A person may not catch or land horseshoe crabs within 1 mile of the Atlantic Coast, its coastal bays, or their tidal tributaries, or the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries.
• July 17, 2014 through November 30, 2014: A person may catch or land horseshoe crabs from the tidal waters of the State.
• December 1, 2014 through June 8, 2015: A person may not catch or land horseshoe crabs in Maryland.
• Catch Limits: An individual may not land more than 25 male horseshoe crabs unless they are in possession of a valid horseshoe crab landing permit. A permittee may not land more than 150 male horseshoe crabs per day.
• All other rules remain the same.

Joseph P. Gill
Secretary
Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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