Unless otherwise authorized by the Department, it shall be unlawful for any person to use dredges to take horseshoe crabs in this State unless said person has a valid horseshoe crab dredge permit issued annually by the Department. The fee for a resident horseshoe crab dredge permit shall be $100. The fee for a nonresident horseshoe crab dredge permit shall be $1,000. The Department shall not issue a horseshoe crab dredge permit to any person unless said person is the current owner and operator of an oyster vessel licensed to transplant oysters from natural oyster beds as provided under the provisions of Chapter 19 of this title and shellfish regulations adopted by the Department. The permit shall designate the vessel to be used to dredge for horseshoe crabs. The Department shall not issue more than 5 horseshoe crab dredge permits during any 1 calendar year.

68 Del. Laws, c. 33, § ?2;