Chesapeake Bay News

Maryland’s Task Force on Fisheries Management recently submitted its 2008 Legislative Report to Governor Martin O’Malley, members of the Maryland General Assembly, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary John R. Griffin.

“Maryland’s diverse fishery resources are irreplaceable, often serving as the center of our local economies, culture and quality of life,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “We appreciate the many hours volunteered by the task force’s members to work with our fishery managers to improve the way we manage and protect fish resources across the state.”

The Task Force’s report offers more than 30 specific recommendations on habitat preservation and restoration, fisheries stock monitoring and assessment, data management, fishery management, legal issues, and enforcement.

“Enforcing fishing laws and regulations, and protecting and restoring habitat are critical issues facing fisheries conservation in Maryland,” said Task Force Chairman, Thomas B. Lewis. “Without quality habitat, other efforts to improve fisheries management and protection will be of limited value. Additionally, in order to successfully meet current and future fisheries management challenges, stronger enforcement – on the ground, in the water, and in the courts is desperately needed. Without enforcement, even the best fishery management plans are doomed to fail.”

Highlights of the Task Force’s recommendations include:

* Rebuilding DNR’s environmental review group and developing strategic, quantitative habitat criteria for state and local land use planners and permitting agencies to use in order to protect waterways and aquatic resources;

* Prioritizing fisheries stock monitoring activities, with citizen input and a continuing evolution toward multi-species and ecosystem-based monitoring;

* Centralizing biological, harvest and angler data to create a searchable, comprehensive database accessible to fisheries managers, habitat managers, and land use decision-makers;

* Expanding DNR’s legal authority to create management plans for additional species and increase public involvement in development and implementation of fisheries management plans;

* Updating and revising antiquated and inconsistent fisheries laws; and

* Establishing a permanent funding source for the Natural Resources Police to avoid future loss of personnel and fund critical equipment upgrade needs.

“Members of the task force, while representing divergent constituencies, came together with Fisheries Service professionals in a remarkable collaboration to evaluate Maryland’s fisheries management and find practical ways to improve and modernize the State’s efforts,” said Lewis. “We believe these proposed improvements will lead to increased citizen involvement, higher focus on habitat protection and restoration, and additional enforcement support to protect our fisheries. We are also glad to see that many of our recommendations are already being implemented by the Fisheries Service.”

During the 2009 session of the Maryland General Assembly, DNR expects to request legislation to implement some of the Task Force’s recommendations.

Governor O’Malley established the 17-member task force, comprised of scientists, recreational anglers, watermen, charter boat captains and conservationists, last November. The Fisheries Management Reform Act (Senate Bill 1012) charged the Task Force with developing new strategies to better manage Maryland’s valuable fishery resources.

For the full report, visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/taskforce/.

source: DNR press release

On April 21, 2008, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposed new recreational and commercial harvest regulations to help rebuild the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population and fishery. The proposed regulations are designed to reduce female blue crab harvest by 34 percent in 2008.

“We must take action today to ensure that Maryland’s iconic blue crab and the economy it supports continue to be important parts of our culture for generations to come,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “The historic cooperation and coordination between Maryland, Virginia and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission has created an unparalleled opportunity to protect and restore our shared blue crab resource.  By working together, we will protect the most biologically important blue crabs from the beginning of their migration until they spawn in late spring and summer.”

The proposed emergency regulations for the 2008 Chesapeake Bay commercial blue crab fishery include an early closure to the season for harvesting female crabs and catch limits on female crabs earlier in the fall.  DNR’s preferred regulatory option being introduced as an emergency regulatory package today, would close commercial harvest of female crabs on October 23 and impose individualized catch limits effective September 1 based on a waterman’s recent annual average reported female blue crab harvest.  The proposed emergency regulations for the 2008 Chesapeake Bay recreational fishery prohibit any female blue crab harvest.

Protecting female blue crabs by reducing recreational and commercial harvests represents the best opportunity for the quickest rebound,” said DNR Secretary John R. Griffin.  “We will continue to work with scientists, recreational crabbers, the commercial crab industry, conservationists, and local businesses to ensure a sustainable future for our blue crabs so that the species can continue to fulfill its ecological role within the Bay while also supporting the local economies that rely upon it.”

The current abundance of adult or reproductive-age blue crabs is 120 million crabs, only slightly above the established minimum safe threshold of 86 million reproductive-age crabs, is 70 percent lower than 1990 levels and well below the conservation target of 200 million crabs.  Since 2001, Maryland and Virginia have shared a conservation goal of limiting annual blue crab harvest to no more than 46 percent of the species population.  Scientists estimate that more than 60 percent of the Bay’s adult crab population was harvested last year.  In Maryland, the 2007 commercial blue crab harvest of approximately 21.8 million pounds was one of the lowest recorded since 1945.

Governor O’Malley has committed to working closely with Maryland’s blue crab industry to develop mitigation options for the potential short term economic impacts resulting from the proposed regulations. The fiscal year 2009 capital budget for DNR included $3 million for habitat restoration projects, seafood processing industry grants and aquaculture development.

More than 500 individual comments have been submitted on blue crab management to the DNR since it initiated a public comment process in February. DNR’s public comment process thus far has included nine public and Sport and Tidal Fish Advisory Commissions meetings and an on-going online comment process. The proposed draft regulations will be reviewed by the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive & Legislative Review. The proposed regulations will be published in the Maryland Register on May 23, 2008.

DNR will hold two public hearings on the regulatory proposal – one on May 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Governor’s Hall at Sailwinds Park in Cambridge, and one on June 4 at 7 p.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church in Annapolis.  Sign language interpreters and other appropriate accommodations for individuals will be provided upon request.  Public comments may also be submitted via mail to Sarah Widman, Fisheries Service, B-2, Tawes State Office Building, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, by calling 410-260-8260, by faxing to 410-260-8278 or emailing to fisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us.

A variety of factors including over-fishing, poor water quality, loss of habitat such as submerged aquatic vegetation and oyster reefs, and changing climatic conditions have contributed to the decline of the Bay’s blue crab population.  Reducing female blue crab harvest is one of many actions taken by the O’Malley Administration to help restore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.  Recent successes include strengthening the Critical Area Law to protect the most sensitive and significant shoreline habitats; securing an additional $25 million annually for Bay restoration efforts through the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund; and implementing the BayStat Initiative to track progress and more effectively target our efforts.