Letter from the President of the Maryland Charter Boat Association to Gov. Wes Moore
On March 24, 2026, Brian Hardman, President of the Maryland Charter Boat Association, wrote a letter to Governor Wes Moore urging an advancement of SB755 to help preserve Maryland’s Charter Boat Industry.
The letter highlights that approximately 70–75% of Maryland’s charter boat businesses are currently insolvent, with minimal bookings for the upcoming summer season due to extended closures and the current one-fish regulation. The Association argues that the conservation burden is not being equitably shared across fishing sectors, given that commercial fishermen may harvest striped bass for roughly 9½ months per year, recreational anglers for approximately 11 months, while charter boats are limited to just 6 months. They contend that this disparity may conflict with the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act’s non-discrimination provision, while also emphasizing that charter boats serve as important public access roles to local residents who cannot afford private vessels.
Hardman requests that SB755 be referred to the Rules Committee and be advanced for the Governor’s signature, warning that without action Maryland risks losing tens of millions of dollars in tourism revenue and could see the permanent closure of many small charter businesses.
The Delmarva Fisheries Association is aligned with the Maryland Charter Boat Association, is in full agreement of the points brought forth in this letter and also urges that SB755 be referred to the Rules Committee.
Read the full letter here: SB755_MarylandCharterBoatAssociation-GovMoore
About The Author
