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WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 42
Chapter 42
(Senate Bill 610)
AN ACT concerning
Department of Natural Resources – Commercial Invasive Blue and Flathead
Catfish Finfish Trotline License Pilot Program – Alterations
FOR the purpose of altering the commercial blue and flathead catfish finfish trotline license
to allow a person to catch blue catfish with certain gear Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot
Program to include the Blue Catfish Gill Net Program; and generally relating to the
commercial blue and flathead catfish finfish trotline license Invasive Blue Catfish
Pilot Program.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Natural Resources Chapter 171 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2025
Section 4–701.2
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Chapter 172 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2025
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Chapter 171 of the Acts of 2025
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That:
(a) The Department of Natural Resources, in coordination with the Invasive
Catfish Advisory Committee, shall establish the Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program.
(b) The purpose of the Pilot Program is to curb the spread of the invasive blue
catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
(c) The Pilot Program consists of:
(1) the For–Hire/Commercial Blue Catfish Program;
(2) the Mid– and Lower–Bay Blue Catfish Trotline Program; [and]
(3) THE BLUE CATFISH GILL NET PROGRAM; AND
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Ch. 42 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND
[(3)] (4) any other program that the Department determines to be
effective in curbing the spread of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
(d) (1) Under the For–Hire/Commercial Blue Catfish Program, the
Department may:
(i) authorize eligible participants to run for–hire and commercial
fishing trips simultaneously; and
(ii) make any regulatory or administrative changes it believes will
increase the commercial harvest of blue catfish.
(2) (i) Under the Mid– and Lower–Bay Blue Catfish Trotline Program,
the Department shall authorize the use of finfish trotlines south of the William Preston
Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge to the maximum extent feasible to harvest blue catfish.
(ii) The Department may restrict the areas south of the William
Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge where finfish trotlines may be used to harvest blue
catfish based on potential bycatch, user conflicts, or other issues it considers relevant.
(e) In implementing the Pilot Program, the Department shall consider for the
harvest of blue catfish:
(1) authorizing the use of electrofishing;
(2) authorizing the use of finfish trotlines of up to 2,400 feet in length;
(3) eliminating any limits on the number of hooks used on a finfish trotline;
and
(4) authorizing the use of hooks that are not corrodible.
(f) The Department shall:
(1) expand the use of practices determined to be effective under the Pilot
Program throughout the duration of the Pilot Program; and
(2) continue to implement and update the Pilot Program until the
termination date of this Act.
(g) On or before December 1, [2025] 2026, AND EACH DECEMBER 1
THEREAFTER, the Department shall report to the [Governor] SENATE COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT and THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENT
AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State
Government Article, [the General Assembly] on [its] THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PILOT
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WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 42
PROGRAM DURING THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR, INCLUDING findings and
recommendations under the Pilot Program.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is
enacted. It shall remain effective through June 30, [2026] 2030, and, at the end of June
30, [2026] 2030, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall
be abrogated and of no further force and effect.
Chapter 172 of the Acts of 2025
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That:
(a) The Department of Natural Resources, in coordination with the Invasive
Catfish Advisory Committee, shall establish the Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program.
(b) The purpose of the Pilot Program is to curb the spread of the invasive blue
catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
(c) The Pilot Program consists of:
(1) the For–Hire/Commercial Blue Catfish Program;
(2) the Mid– and Lower–Bay Blue Catfish Trotline Program; [and]
(3) THE BLUE CATFISH GILL NET PROGRAM; AND
[(3)] (4) any other program that the Department determines to be
effective in curbing the spread of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
(d) (1) Under the For–Hire/Commercial Blue Catfish Program, the
Department may:
(i) authorize eligible participants to run for–hire and commercial
fishing trips simultaneously; and
(ii) make any regulatory or administrative changes it believes will
increase the commercial harvest of blue catfish.
(2) (i) Under the Mid– and Lower–Bay Blue Catfish Trotline Program,
the Department shall authorize the use of finfish trotlines south of the William Preston
Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge to the maximum extent feasible to harvest blue catfish.
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Ch. 42 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND
(ii) The Department may restrict the areas south of the William
Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge where finfish trotlines may be used to harvest blue
catfish based on potential bycatch, user conflicts, or other issues it considers relevant.
(e) In implementing the Pilot Program, the Department shall consider for the
harvest of blue catfish:
(1) authorizing the use of electrofishing;
(2) authorizing the use of finfish trotlines of up to 2,400 feet in length;
(3) eliminating any limits on the number of hooks used on a finfish trotline;
and
(4) authorizing the use of hooks that are not corrodible.
(f) The Department shall:
(1) expand the use of practices determined to be effective under the Pilot
Program throughout the duration of the Pilot Program; and
(2) continue to implement and update the Pilot Program until the
termination date of this Act.
(g) On or before December 1, [2025] 2026, AND EACH DECEMBER 1
THEREAFTER, the Department shall report to the [Governor] SENATE COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT and THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENT
AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State
Government Article, [the General Assembly] on [its] THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PILOT
PROGRAM DURING THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR, INCLUDING findings and
recommendations under the Pilot Program.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is
enacted. It shall remain effective through June 30, [2026] 2030, and, at the end of June
30, [2026] 2030, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall
be abrogated and of no further force and effect.
Article – Natural Resources
4–701.2.
(a) There is a commercial blue and flathead catfish [finfish trotline] license.
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WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 42
(b) (1) The license authorizes the holder to catch for sale [blue and flathead]
IN THE TIDAL WATERS OF THE STATE:
(I) BLUE CATFISH USING, AS DEFINED IN DEPARTMENT
REGULATIONS:
1. A FINFISH TROTLINE; OR
2. A GILL NET WITH A MESH SIZE OF NOT MORE THAN 7
INCHES; AND
(II) FLATHEAD catfish [in the tidal waters of the State] using a
finfish trotline, as defined in Department regulations.
(2) A licensee shall fish in accordance with Department regulations.
(c) A person who wishes to obtain the license shall complete and submit an
application for the license to the Department or any person designated by the Department.
(d) An applicant for the license does not need to hold a tidal fish license under §
4–701 of this subtitle to be eligible for the license.
(e) The term of the license is 1 year from September 1 through August 31 the
following year.
(f) The annual license fee is $15.
(g) A licensee may not transfer a license issued under this section.
(h) A licensee shall have a commercial blue and flathead catfish [finfish trotline]
license in the licensee’s possession when the licensee fishes under the license.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is
enacted.
Approved by the Governor, April 14, 2026.
–5–Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.