Md. Code, Natural Resources § 4-747
This is the official text of Md. Code, Natural Resources § 4-747, part of Maryland’s Code, Natural Resources — governs parks, wildlife, and natural resource management.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§4–747.
Official statutory text
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) (i) “Shark” means any species of the subclass Elasmobranchii.
(ii) “Shark” does not include smooth–hounds, spiny dogfish, or species in the superorder Batoidea.
(3) “Shark fin” means the raw, dried, or otherwise processed detached fin or tail of a shark.
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a person may not possess, sell, offer for sale, trade, or distribute a shark fin.
(2) A person may possess a shark fin if:
(i) The person holds the appropriate State or federal license or permit authorizing the taking or landing of a shark for recreational or commercial purposes;
(ii) The shark fin is taken from a shark that the person has taken or landed; and
(iii) The shark fin is taken in a manner consistent with the person’s license.
(3) A museum, college, or university may possess a shark fin if the shark fin is used solely for display or research purposes.
(c) The Department shall adopt regulations to implement this section.
(2) (i) “Shark” means any species of the subclass Elasmobranchii.
(ii) “Shark” does not include smooth–hounds, spiny dogfish, or species in the superorder Batoidea.
(3) “Shark fin” means the raw, dried, or otherwise processed detached fin or tail of a shark.
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a person may not possess, sell, offer for sale, trade, or distribute a shark fin.
(2) A person may possess a shark fin if:
(i) The person holds the appropriate State or federal license or permit authorizing the taking or landing of a shark for recreational or commercial purposes;
(ii) The shark fin is taken from a shark that the person has taken or landed; and
(iii) The shark fin is taken in a manner consistent with the person’s license.
(3) A museum, college, or university may possess a shark fin if the shark fin is used solely for display or research purposes.
(c) The Department shall adopt regulations to implement this section.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Maryland?
Find a Maryland lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.