Some updates on the Maryland Laws.
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SUMMARY
The emergency snakehead regulations were approved by the Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review Committee of the General Assembly and are effective November 23, 2004. The proposed permanent regulation is scheduled to be effective January 6, 2005. The regulation prohibits the live possession of two species of snakehead fish: Channa argus (Northern snakehead) and Channa maculata (blotched snakehead). The Northern and blotched snakehead fish are both temperate species and pose a long-term threat to ecosystem balance. The regulation complements federal rule by prohibiting the importation and transportation of any live fish or viable eggs of snakehead fishes of the family Channidae in the State. In addition, the regulation will prohibit the sale and breeding of snakehead fish of the family Channidae in order to prevent ownership of new snakehead fish.
REGULATIONS
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08. Department of Natural Resources
Subtitle 02. Fisheries Service
Chapter 19. Nuisance and Prohibited Species.
.01 Prohibitions
A. Except as authorized by Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Part 16, a person may not import, transport, or introduce into the State any live fish or viable eggs of snakehead fishes of the Family Channidae, including but not limited to:
Channa amphibeus - chel snakehead;
Channa argus - northern snakehead;
Channa asiatica - chinese snakehead;
Channa aurantimaculata - orangespotted snakehead;
Channa bankanensis - bangka snakehead;
Channa baramensis - baram snakehead;
Channa barca - barca snakehead;
Channa bleheri -rainbow snakehead;
Channa burmanica - burmese snakehead
Channa cyanospilos - bluespotted snakehead;
Channa gachua - dwarf snakehead;
Channa harcourtbutleri - inle snakehead;
Channa lucius - splendid snakehead;
Channa maculata - blotched snakehead;
Channa marulius - bullseye snakehead;
Channa maruloides - emperor snakehead;
Channa melanoptera - blackfinned snakehead;
Channa melasoma - black snakehead;
Channa micropeltes - giant snakehead;
Channa nox – night snakehead;
Channa orientalis - ceylon snakehead;
Channa panaw – panaw snakehead;
Channa pleurophthalmus - ocellated snakehead;
Channa punctata - spotted snakehead;
Channa stewartii - golden snakehead;
Channa striata - chevron snakehead;
Parachanna africana - niger snakehead;
Parachanna insignis - congo snakehead; and
Parachanna obscura - african snakehead.
B. A person may not sell or breed live snakehead fish of the Family Channidae in the State.
.02 Possession.
A. Except as provided in §B of this regulation a person may not possess the viable eggs or live snakehead fish of the species:
Channa argus (northern snakehead); and
Channa maculata (blotched snakehead).
B. The Department may issue a permit for the possession of a live snakehead fish for scientific purposes to a properly accredited person of known scientific attainment.
C. RONALD FRANKS
Secretary of Natural Resources
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Last updated on December 7, 2004
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