The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources pursuant to the Code of Maryland Regulations 08.02.04.12 announces that the closed oyster study areas described below for Anne Arundel County, Eastern Bay, Little Choptank River, Miles River, Patuxent River, and Wicomico River will be open for harvest effective 12:01 am on December 26, 2005 and will remain open until further notice by the Department.

(a) Anne Arundel County. All of the waters of Anne Arundel County on Tolly Point Bar enclosed by a line beginning at a point, defined by Lat. 38° 55.969' N. and Long. 76° 25.826' W.; then running approximately 299° True to a point, defined by Lat. 38° 56.274' N. and Long. 76° 26.529' W.; then running approximately 299° True to a point, defined by Lat. 38° 56.490' N. and Long. 76° 27.026' W.; then running approximately 41° True to a point, defined by Lat. 38° 57.058' N. and Long. 76° 26.390' W.; then running approximately 141° True to a point, defined by Lat. 38° 56.234' N. and Long. 76° 25.525' W.; then running approximately 222° True to the point of beginning.

(b) Eastern Bay. All of the waters of Queen Anne's County on Parsons Island Bar enclosed by a line beginning at a point defined by Lat. 38° 53.601' N. and Long. 76° 15.605' W.; then running approximately 307° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 53.982' N. and Long. 76° 16.244' W.; then running approximately 13° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 54.117' N. and Long. 76° 16.205' W.; then running approximately 88° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 54.128' N. and Long. 76° 15.790' W.; then running approximately 15° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 54.500' N. and Long. 76° 15.659' W.; then running approximately 73° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 54.602' N. and Long. 76° 15.226' W.; then running approximately 184° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 53.987' N. and Long. 76° 15.278' W.; then running approximately 213° True to the point of beginning.

(c) Little Choptank River. All of the waters of Dorchester County on Ragged Point Bar enclosed by a line beginning at a point defined by Lat. 38° 31.431' N. and Long. 76° 17.829' W.; then running approximately 273° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 31.451' N. and Long. 76° 18.378' W.; then running approximately 2° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 32.270' N. and Long. 76° 18.340' W.; then running approximately 66° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 32.621' N. and Long. 76° 17.331' W.; then running approximately 108° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 32.554' N. and Long. 76° 17.071' W.; then running approximately 199° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 32.019' N. and Long. 76° 17.301' W.; then running approximately 215° True to the point of beginning.

(d) Miles River. All of the waters of Talbot County on Turtleback Bar enclosed by a line beginning at a point defined by Lat. 38° 50.928' N. and Long. 76° 14.237' W.; then running approximately 279° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 50.942' N. and Long. 76° 14.349' W.; then running approximately 17° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 51.287' N. and Long. 76° 14.211' W.; then running approximately 115° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 51.192' N. and Long. 76° 13.946' W.; then running approximately 221° True to the point of beginning.

(e) Patuxent River. All of the waters of Saint Mary’s County on Gatton Bar enclosed by a line beginning at a point defined by Lat. 38° 23.440' N. and Long. 76° 32.891' W.; then running approximately 277° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 23.467' N. and Long. 76° 33.179' W.; then running approximately 279° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 23.567' N. and Long. 76° 34.005' W.; then running approximately 303° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 23.607' N. and Long. 76° 34.084' W.; then running approximately 1° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 23.762' N. and Long. 76° 34.080' W.; then running approximately 87° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 23.782' N. and Long. 76° 33.625' W.; then running approximately 115° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 23.511' N. and Long. 76° 32.879' W.; then running approximately 187° True to the point of beginning.

(f) Wicomico River. All of the waters of Saint Mary’s County on Windmill Bar enclosed by a line beginning at a point defined by Lat. 38° 18.222' N. and Long. 76° 50.893' W.; then running approximately 2° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 18.594' N. and Long. 76° 50.880' W.; then running approximately 321° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 18.758' N. and Long. 76° 51.047' W.; then running approximately 36° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 18.885' N. and Long. 76° 50.930' W.; then running approximately 332° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 19.060' N. and Long. 76° 51.049' W.; then running approximately 88° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 19.075' N. and Long. 76° 50.446' W.; then running approximately 167° True to a point defined by Lat. 38° 18.409' N. and Long. 76° 50.256' W.; then running approximately 250° True to the point of beginning.

Comments or questions may be sent to Eric Campbell, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service, Tawes State Office Building, 580 Taylor Avenue B-2, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, phone at 410-260-8322 or FAX (410) 260-8279.