Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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Permit Information

E-Reporting with FACTSTM – Charter Pilot Permit

The above named individual is an authorized (COMAR 08.02.01.10) participant in a Maryland Department of Natural Resources Electronic Reporting Pilot study evaluating Chesapeake Bay for-hire fisheries reporting systems.

Conditions:
  1. Participants and their designated authorized users shall be able to provide verification of their participation in the program and their eligibility to use the flexibilities described below.
  2. Participants shall provide daily reports of charter catch (harvest and discards) and effort data as required, per the program’s User Manual and Best Reporting Practices, via electronic means in lieu of paper harvest reports for the duration of their participation in the pilot study.
  3. Participants shall provide daily reports required by the Department in the appropriate FACTS form.
  4. In the event there is an inability to report electronically through the FACTS​ system due to device failure, the participant is required to submit such other reports as required under provisions of Natural Resources Article, §4-206.
  5. The Department will not use the reporting devices to track a participant’s location during the study.
  6. Flexibility

    7. Striped Bass Charter Fishery -

    • Pilot participants operating under a Resident Fishing Guide License (FGR), Nonresident Fishing Guide License (FGN), Master Fishing Guide License (FGM) or Unlimited Tidal Fish License (TFL) will have the flexibility for the captain and one mate to each possess up to one striped bass per person per day, within the open recreational striped bass season after May 15. All clients on board a vessel operated by a pilot program participant may possess up to one striped bass per person per day, within the open recreational striped bass season after May 15.
    • Due to restrictions in COMAR 08.02.01.10, all other fishing guides operating in Maryland waters are not eligible for this flexibility.​

  7. ​The Department may, at its discretion, terminate participation of any permittee at any time. (COMAR 08.02.01.10 and Natural Resources Article, §4-215)
  8. This permit shall be signed by the participant and designated representative of the Department of Natural Resources.
  9. The Department, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Versar Inc., and Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. are held harmless from participant’s use of the electronic reporting platforms or acts occurring during that use.
  10. Participants docking and landing on private property grant access to staff of the Department, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Versar Inc., and Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. for the sole purpose to conduct harvest verification.​

Please contact Stephanie Richards at FisheriesEReporting.DNR@maryland.gov or 410-260-8314 with any questions regarding this pilot.​


E-Reporting with FACTSTM – Shellfish Dealer Pilot Permit


The above-named individual is an authorized (COMAR 08.02.01.10) participant in a Maryland Department of Natural Resources Shellfish Dealer Electronic Reporting Pilot study evaluating Chesapeake Bay commercial fisheries harvest reporting systems.

Conditions:
  1. Participants shall be able to provide verification of their participation in the program.
  2. Participants
    1. ​​​​​Participants shall provide daily reports of shellfish buy ticket data as required, per the program’s User Manual and Best Reporting Practices, via electronic means in lieu of paper buy tickets for the duration of their participation in the pilot study.
    2. Participants shall provide daily reports required by the Department in the appropriate FACTS form.
    3. The participant is required to submit a Shellfish Tax Report and/or an Oyster Export Certificate as required under provision of Natural Resources Article, §4-1020 and COMAR 08.02.04.16 and 08.02.02.04.
  3. In the event there is an inability to report electronically through the FACTS system due to device failure, the participant is required to submit such other reports as required under provisions of Natural Resources Article, §4-206.
  4. The Department will not use the reporting devices to track a participant's location during the study.
  5. The Department may, at its discretion, terminate participation of any permittee at any time. (COMAR 08.02.01.10 and Natural Resources Article, §4-215)
  6. This permit shall be signed by the participant and designated representative of the Department of Natural Resources.
  7. The Department, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Versar Inc., and Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. are held harmless from participant’s use of the electronic reporting platforms or acts occurring during that use.
  8. Participants docking and landing on private property grant access to staff of the Department, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Versar Inc., and Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. for the sole purpose to conduct harvest verification.​
​Please contact Stephanie Richards at FisheriesEReporting.DNR@maryland.gov​ or 410-260-8314 with any questions regarding this pilot.​​

E-Reporting with FACTSTM – Shellfish Harvester Pilot Permit


The above-named individual is an authorized (COMAR 08.02.01.10) participant in a Maryland Department of Natural  Resources Shellfish Harvester Electronic Reporting Pilot study evaluating Chesapeake Bay Commercial fisheries harvest  reporting systems. You may only participate under this permit in the fishery or fisheries for which you hold a valid authorization under Natural Resources Article, §4-701. 

Conditions:
  1. Participants, their designated authorized users (Natural Resources Article, §4-701) and/or designated authorized representatives (condition 5a) shall be able to provide verification of their participation in the program and their eligibility to use the flexibilities described below.
  2. Participants
    1. ​​​​​​Participants shall provide daily reports of clam and oyster harvest and effort data as required, per the program’s User Manual and Best Reporting Practices, via electronic means in lieu of paper harvest reports for the duration of their participation in the pilot study. ​
    2. Participants shall provide daily reports required by the Department in the appropriate FACTS form.
    3. The participant is required to submit a Shellfish Tax Report and/or an Oyster Export Certificate as required under provision of Natural Resources Article, §4-1020 and COMAR 08.02.04.16 and 08.02.02.04.
  3. In the event there is an inability to report electronically through the FACTSTM system due to device failure, the participant is required to submit such other reports as required under provisions of Natural Resources Article, §4-206.
  4. The Department will not use the reporting devices to track a participant's location during the study.
  5. Flexibilities for Shellfish Harvesters: ​
    1. Pilot participants can designate authorized representatives to take their harvest to dealers under their license. Authorized representatives must be commercially licensed individuals allowed to harvest shellfish and be participating in the Shellfish FACTSTM pilot program.
    2. Early Start Time:
      1. ​​January 1, 2024 through end of the 2023-2024 oyster season: pilot participants licensed to harvest shellfish in the Chesapeake Bay can start harvesting up to ½ hour before sunrise by electing to daily report using FACTSTM as part of their start hail for each trip.
      2. Pilot participants electing to start ½ hour before sunrise must display the letters “EHRS” on their vessel. The letters shall be painted or firmly attached to the port side near the stern of the vessel. The letters shall be plain vertical block characters of not less than 3 inches in height and shall contrast with the color of the background.
      3. Pilot participants will observe the same workday total hours as non-FACTSTM users. If they elect to start early they must cease harvesting:
        1. ​Oysters by 2:30 p.m. when using shaft tong, patent tong, dredge boat, diving apparatus, or power dredge;
        2. Oysters at least 1/2 hour before sunset when using a dredge boat propelled by means of an auxiliary yawl boat; and
        3. Clams at least 1/2 hour before sunset.​
  6. ​The Department may, at its discretion, terminate participation of any permittee at any time. (COMAR 08.02.01.10 and Natural Resources Article, §4-215​​​
  7. ​​This permit shall be signed by the participant and designated representative of the Department of Natural Resources.
  8. The Department, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Versar Inc., and Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. are held harmless from participant’s use of the electronic reporting platforms or acts occurring during that use.
  9. Participants docking and landing on private property grant access to staff of the Department, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Versar Inc., and Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. for the sole purpose to conduct harvest verification.​
​
​Please contact Stephanie Richards at FisheriesEReporting.DNR@maryland.gov or 410-260-8314 with any questions regarding this pilot.​

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E-Reporting with FACTSTM – Blue Crab Pilot Permit

Blue Crabs

The above named individual is an authorized (COMAR 08.02.01.10) participant in a Maryland Department of Natural Resources pilot study with the Blue Crab Design Team evaluating monitoring and reporting systems for the commercial blue crab fishery in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coastal bays.

Conditions:
  1. Participants and their designated authorized users shall be able to provide verification of their participation in the program and their eligibility to use the flexibilities described below.
  2. Participants shall provide daily reports of crabbing harvest and effort data as required, per the program’s User Manual and Best Reporting Practices, via electronic means in lieu of paper harvest reports for the duration of their participation in the pilot study.
  3. Participants shall provide daily reports required by the Department in the appropriate FACTS form.
  4. In the event there is an inability to report electronically through the FACTS system due to device failure, the participant is required to submit such other reports as required under provisions of Natural Resources Article, §4-206.
  5. The Department will not use the reporting devices to track a participant’s location during the study.
  6. Day off Flexibility (All Season):
    1. Pilot participants will observe a crabbing week from Wednesday through Tuesday.
    2. Pilot participants shall not crab on more than six (6) days during any crabbing week, except as otherwise specifically permitted by the Department for holidays. (COMAR 08.02.03.14)
    3. Pilot participants are required to display the letters “EHR” on their vessel throughout their participation in the Pilot. The letters shall be painted or firmly attached to the port side near the stern of the vessel. The letters shall be plain vertical block characters of not less than 3 inches in height and shall contrast with the color of the background.
  7. Early Start Time Flexibility (All Season):
    1. Pilot participants licensed to catch crabs for sale may remove crabs from crab pots in the Chesapeake Bay up to two (2) hours before sunrise by electing to start early in FACTS as part of their start hail for each trip during the months of April through December.
    2. Pilot participants will observe an eight hour workday so that if they elect to start early they must cease removing crabs from their pots six (6) hours after sunrise in the months of April through December regardless of their start time.
    3. Pilot Participants licensed to catch crabs for sale may remove crabs from crab pots in the Chesapeake Bay up to three (3) hours before sunrise on July 3 and July 4 by electing to start early in FACTS on those days, and must cease removing crabs from their pots six (6) hours after sunrise.
  8. The Department may, at its discretion, terminate participation of any permittee at any time. (COMAR 08.02.01.10 and Natural Resources Article, §4-215)
  9. This permit shall be signed by the participant and designated representative of the Department of Natural Resources.​
  10. The Department, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Versar Inc., and Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. are held harmless from participant’s use of the electronic reporting platforms or acts occurring during that use.
  11. Participants docking and landing on private property grant access to staff of the Department, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Versar Inc., and Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. for the sole purpose to conduct harvest verification.​

Please contact Stephanie Richards at FisheriesEReporting.DNR@maryland.gov or 410-260-8314 with any questions regarding this pilot.​

    E-Reporting with FACTSTM - Finfish Pilot Permit

    Commercial watermen pulling a striped bass out of a gill net.

    The above named individual is an authorized (COMAR 08.02.01.10) participant in a Maryland Department of Natural Resources Finfish Electronic Reporting Pilot study evaluating Chesapeake Bay commercial fisheries harvest reporting systems.

    Conditions:
    1. ​​Participants, their designated authorized users (Natural Resources Article, §4-701) and/or designated authorized representatives (condition 6c) shall be able to provide verification of their participation in the program and their eligibility to use the flexibilities described below.
    2. Participants shall provide daily reports of finfishing harvest and effort data as required, per the program’s User Manual and Best Reporting Practices, via electronic means in lieu of paper harvest reports for the duration of their participation in the pilot study.
    3. Participants shall provide daily reports required by the Department in the appropriate FACTS form.
    4. In the event there is an inability to report electronically through the FACTS system due to device failure, the participant is required to submit such other reports as required under provisions of Natural Resources Article, §4-206.
    5. The Department will not use the reporting devices to track a participant’s location during the study.
    6. Flexibilities:

      7. Commercial Striped Bass Fishery -

      1. Pilot participants will no longer use a paper quota share card. The FACTS system will be used to check in their catch and shall update their remaining quota in real-time.
      2. Pilot participants will have the flexibility to check-in harvest on the next day after a fishing trip. A previous day’s harvest can be checked in either by itself, or can be combined with the next day’s harvest at the end of the second fishing day.
      3. Pilot participants can designate authorized representatives to check harvest in under their license. Pilot participants will set up accounts (user name and password) for each authorized representative to use when checking harvest. Authorized representatives must check-in the catch the same day as fished.

      Commercial Yellow Perch Fishery –

      1. Pilot participants will be allowed to use box tags in place of individual tags for their harvest.
      2. Pilot participants are not required to call in daily to the Yellow Perch Hotline.
    7. The Department may, at its discretion, terminate participation of any permittee at any time. (COMAR 08.02.01.10 and Natural Resources Article, §4-215)
    8. This permit shall be signed by the participant and designated representative of the Department of Natural Resources.
    9. The Department, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Versar Inc., and Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. are held harmless from participant’s use of the electronic reporting platforms or acts occurring during that use.
    10. Participants docking and landing on private property grant access to staff of the Department, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Versar Inc., and Electric Edge Systems Group Inc. for the sole purpose to conduct harvest verification.
    ​
    Please contact Stephanie Richards at FisheriesEReporting.DNR@maryland.gov or 410-260-8314 with any questions regarding this pilot.​​
    ​Please contact Stephanie Richards at 410-260-8314 with any questions regarding these pilot programs.