Pursuant to the authority vested in the Department of Natural Resources by Natural Resources Article, Section 4-1103 of Maryland’s Annotated Code, the following two areas near Poplar Island, Talbot County, Maryland was closed to shellfish harvesting for the purpose of establishing an oyster sanctuary and reserve effective Friday, June 27, 2003. These areas are in Natural Oyster Bar NOB 8-10 and are approximately 7 acres in size each. These closures were coordinated with the local County Oyster Committees.

The sanctuary includes all of the portion of NOB 8-10 defined by: a point at or near Latitude 38º 45’ 55.3" N, Longitude 76º 24’ 06.0" W then running approximately 284º (true) to a point at or near Latitude 38º 45’ 56.7" N, Longitude 76º 24’ 12.7" W then running approximately 19º (true) to a point at or near Latitude 38º 46’ 02.1" N, Longitude 76º 24’ 10.3"W then running approximately 104º (true) to a point at or near Latitude 38º 46" 00.8" N, Longitude 76º 24’ 03.9" W then running approximately 197º (true) to the point of beginning.

The reserve includes all of the portion of NOB 8-10 defined by: a point at or near Latitude 38º 47’ 06.9" N, Longitude 76º 22’ 49.2" W then running approximately 303º (true) to a point at or near Latitude 38º 47’ 09.4" N, Longitude 76º 22’ 54.0" W then running approximately 37º (true) to a point at or near Latitude 38º 47’ 13.8" N, Longitude 76º 22’ 49.8" W then running approximately 121º (true) to a point at or near Latitude 38º 47’ 11.4" N, Longitude 76º 22’ 44.7" W, then running approximately 218º (true) to the point of beginning.

The department’s goal is to restore oyster population in these areas and to designate these grounds closed to harvest in order to contribute to the ecology of the river. Seed oysters will be planted on the site to rebuild populations, if needed.

This public notice establishing an oyster sanctuary and an oyster reserve area near Poplar Island was previously published June 17, 2003 incorrectly referred to Natural Oyster Bar (NOB) 10-8. The Poplar Island Shellfish Closure areas should have been identified as within NOB 8-10 as indicated above. All other information in the prior notice was correct and set forth as above.