20250321 00433200 1.0 TRUE 150000000 5000 ItemDescription Public Shellfish Fishery Areas <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P STYLE="margin:0 0 11 0;"><SPAN>The specific coordinates of Public Shellfish Fishery Areas (PSFA) in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries are described in the document, "Public Shellfish Fishery Areas of the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tidal Tributaries (October 2025)", which is incorporated by reference in COMAR 08.02.04.17. Per Maryland statute (Natural Resources Article </SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>§</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>4-11A-04), the PSFA may not be leased for shellfish aquaculture. However, COMAR 08.02.04.17 also provides that a portion of a PSFA may be declassified, i.e., removed from the PSFA, if certain criteria are met (see Supplemental Information).</SPAN></SPAN></P><P STYLE="margin:0 0 11 0;"><SPAN>This revised dataset includes the following update:</SPAN></P><P STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;"><SPAN>1) Declassify a portion of PSFA 83 to allow for shellfish aquaculture; and 2) Make corrections to the buffers of PSFA 152 and PSFA 156. </SPAN></P><OL STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;padding:0 0 0 0;"><LI><P /></LI></OL></DIV></DIV></DIV> https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/Public_Shellfish_Fishery_Areas_of_the_Chesapeake_Bay_and_Its_Tidal_Tributaries.pdf https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/08.02.04.17.aspx https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=gnr&section=4-11A-04&enactments=False&archived=False This layer provides a digital map layer of Maryland's Public Shellfish Fishery Areas (PSFA), which are areas open for commercial shellfish harvest. This dataset was created for management purposes only. For the official boundaries, please consult the Annotated Code of Maryland (COMAR). Printed or electronic media created with this data should bear the following disclaimer: "The polygons shown are for oyster management purposes only. For the official PSFA boundaries, consult the Annotated Code of Maryland and/or Maryland DNR's Hydrographic Operations Division within Fishing and Boating Services." PSFA Public Shellfish Fishery Area Fisheries Oyster Bars Maryland Chesapeake Bay 20260413