FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DELMARVA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION: 

           Recently with the introduction of Senate Bill 755, the bill that keeps the Maryland Department of Natural Resources from closing the whole month of August, and targeting striped bass during the spawning season for catch and release, and also not implementing a Fishery Management Plan without a socioeconomic impact study, we at the Delmarva Fisheries Association fully support this bill, and will be testifying in favor of this bill March 10th at 1:00 p.m. in the Miller Senate building in Annapolis, Maryland. It’s about time that we had a bipartisan bill that moves forward in a positive direction and does not adversely affect the citizens of not only Maryland, but also specifically the Eastern Shore and its fishing communities. More than likely, certain environmental groups will be opposing this bill because it does not suit their agenda. We and the fisheries that make our living on the Chesapeake Bay are the primary stakeholders and the frontline environmentalists for the Chesapeake Bay. The opposition parties to this bill are secondary stakeholders and do not generate a living from the natural resource. They only generate a living by over-regulating the natural resource. Delmarva Fisheries Association is moving in the direction that is most effective when dealing with over-regulation. It is a shame though, that we will have to take the charter boats issue as far as the Supreme Court, just so we can go out and catch two fish hopefully. I never thought I’d see these days come when we have the fight in the highest court in the country just to go to work.

           One of the greatest things about this SB755 is that the discussion will come out to the public about how wrongly the state of Maryland is managing this fishery. In 40 years, I never would have thought that I would see it this bad! And that’s even after going through a moratorium. It is evident that the lack of science plays a major role in this, but when you do the research, and I mean dig deep, you will find out that there is science out there, but it is being kept below the radar. The regulators of the industry will soon find out that if they continue in the manner that they are, there will have to be some form of accountability. It is good to have the support.