Maryland to Provide Support for Invasive Species

Largemouth Bass

Baltimore Fish Bowl, New Maryland initiative to fund black bass conservation projects

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will start collecting donations from anglers, boaters and hunters when applying for licenses to help fund the Black Bass Conservation Fund.

Changing ecosystems, invasive species, climate change impacts, and other factors have contributed to the need for conservation.

“This dedicated source of funding has been long in the making and should enable us to do more to make better fisheries for our black bass anglers,” Dr. Joseph Love, the Department of Natural Resources’ program manager for black bass conservation, said in a press release. “While management objectives have been met with existing funding, expanding existing access to the fishery and addressing long-term challenges that bass face in our ecosystems requires new approaches and a new way of funding them.”

Smallmouth Bass

The announcement comes just over three months after Gov. Wes Moore signed legislation to create the voluntary donation fund. Funds will go toward installing infrastructure to improve the aquatic area, “purchase supplies that promote conservation during bass tournaments, and support scientific research related to conservation of the resource,” according to the press release.

According to the press release, the Black Bass Advisory Committee will consider new projects to receive funding every year.

Both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, together called "Black Bass" are "invasive" species in Maryland, species which were imported from other areas of country for their food and sports value, and which have adapted well, and spread to all suitable habitat, presumably displacing, at least to some extent, true native species. I'm not complaining, mind you, I like catching, and sometimes eating them, but when we hear horror stories about Northern Snakeheads and Blue Catfish disrupting the ecosystem, we need to remember, we are already dealing with a substantially altered system.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Potato On The Beach ready for prime time at the Other McCain.