(a) To protect the shellfish resources of the State, the Department may adopt rules and regulations prohibiting the importation of any shellfish and quarantining any area within the State populated by shellfish infected or affected or suspected of being infected or affected by any destructive disease, deleterious genetic characteristic, dangerous parasite, or other biological threat.

(b) The Department may establish by rules and regulations the penalty for violating any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The penalty may not exceed a fine of $1,000 or imprisonment for one year, or both, together with confiscation of any gear and equipment, whether afloat or ashore, used to commit the violation, in the discretion of the court.