Sorry I was behind the ball on this. The comment period for the

emergency regs ended March 21st, but if you feel strongly about

this, permanent regs will be posted, too, so it wouldn't hurt to

send in a letter to:



Tamara O'Connell

Fisheries Service B-2

580 Taylor Avenue

Annapolis, MD 21401



tloconnell@ dnr.state.md.us

fax: 410-260-8310

phone: 410-260-8271



Notice that pet snapping turtles are allowed outside of the harvest season - MD is one of the few states that allows this. Of course, if commercial fishermen can make money off of harvesting wild turtles for the food markets, why not be able to keep one as a pet?



Katrina

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http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/draftregulations.htm

l



08.02.06.01



.01 Snapping Turtles.



A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meaning indicated.

B. Terms Defined.



(1) "Carapace" means the top shell of a turtle.

(2) "The wild" means any land or water in the State, either natural or altered, upon which a snapping turtle can exist in a condition which is not constrained or controlled by humans.



C. Methods of Taking Snapping Turtles.

(1) A person may not catch a snapping [turtles] turtle from the

waters of the State by the use of a hook and line, trot line, bow and arrow, spear, gig or gig iron, or any other device capable of piercing any part of a turtle.



(2) Nontidal Waters. In addition to the gear prohibited in §C(1) of this regulation, a person may not catch a snapping turtle from nontidal waters of the State by the use of a net, seine, fish pot, or other fishing rig.



D. Measuring a Snapping Turtle. The length of a snapping turtle

shall be measured:

(1) Along the curvature of the carapace with a flexible tape measure that conforms to the snapping turtle's shell; and

(2) From the nuchal scute, the scute directly behind the turtle's head, to the base of the notch where the two most posterior scutes meet, as described on the harvester's snapping turtle permit card.



E. Season. Open year round.



F. Eggs. A person may not possess, destroy or disturb snapping

turtle eggs or disturb the nest of a snapping turtle.



G. Commercial.

(1) A person may not harvest or possess a snapping turtle from the tidal waters of the State for commercial purposes that has a

carapace length that is less than 9 ½ inches, measured in accordance with §D of this regulation.

(2) A person may not harvest or possess a snapping turtle from the nontidal waters of the State for commercial purposes.

(3) Permit.

(a) A person catching snapping turtles for commercial purposes

shall:

(i) Hold a valid snapping turtle permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources;

(ii) Be licensed to fish for commercial purposes in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-701, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

(iii) Have the Department—issued snapping turtle permit in

possession while fishing for and transporting snapping turtles;

(b) Permits issued by the Department shall be valid beginning on

January 1 and expiring on December 31 each year.

(c) Permits issued by the Department are not transferable, except when a permittee temporarily or permanently transfers their tidal fishing license in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-

701, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(d) A person permitted by the Department to harvest snapping turtles shall:

(i) Complete all information on the snapping turtle permit card and on the Daily Commercial Fisheries Catch Log;

(ii) Submit the completed permit card to the Department by January 15 following the permitted season; and

(iii) Make available daily information, permit cards and catch logs for immediate inspection on verbal request of a Department

representative.

(e) An individual who has not provided a permit card with complete information is not eligible for a permit and is not eligible to participate in the snapping turtle fishery for the next calendar year.

(f) In addition to any other penalty, failure to submit a report as required by this chapter may result in license revocation under Natural Resources Article, §4-701, Annotated Code of Maryland.



H. Noncommercial and Pets.

(1) A person may not take or possess a snapping turtle from the wild for noncommercial purposes that has a carapace length that is less than 4 inches;

(2) A person may not possess more than one snapping turtle taken

from the wild for noncommercial purposes.

(4) A person may possess an unlimited number of snapping turtles

that are:

(a) Captively produced and documented as described in §H(5) of this regulation;

(b) Legally obtained from outside of Maryland and documented as

described in §H(5) of this regulation; or

(c) Obtained from a licensed reptile rescue service, veterinarian,

or wildlife rehabilitator if documentation accompanies the snapping

turtle.

(5) To prove that a snapping turtle did not come from the wild, a person shall retain:

(a) A certificate of origin issued at the time a snapping turtle is obtained; or

(b) A bill of sale or other documentation to prove that the snapping turtle was legally obtained.



I. Release of Captive Snapping Turtles. A person may release a

snapping turtle taken from the wild back to the wild if the person

has obtained prior written authorization from the Department.



J. Exceptions.

(1) The provisions of §§C and F of this regulation do not apply to a person who:

(a) Is authorized by an Aquaculture Permit in accordance with

Natural Resources Article, §4-11A-02, Annotated Code of Maryland;

(b) Is authorized by a Scientific Collection Permit in accordance with Natural Resources Article, §4-212, Annotated Code of Maryland;

(c) Is authorized by a Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit in

accordance with §10-206; or

(d) Is authorized by a Wildlife Control Cooperator Permit in

accordance with §10-908.



K. Grandfather Clause.



(1) If a person possesses more than one individual snapping turtle, the person shall have until July 31, 2008, to request in writing to the Director of the Fisheries Service to maintain possession of those snapping turtles possessed prior to the effective date of this regulation.

(2) For each individual snapping turtle possessed, the declaration shall include:

(a) Species name;

(b) Number of individuals;

(c) Date aquired;

(d) Sex, if known;

(e) Estimated age;

(f) Length;

(g) Origin; and

(h) Other identifying characteristics or specific markings such as tattoos, registration numbers, PIT tag numbers, coloration, missing limbs, or notched shells.



(3) The Department may require additional information and may

approve or disapprove a request. The Department shall acknowledge each request in writing. If the request is approved, the written approval shall serve as a permit for possession only and is not transferable.
Emergency regs

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