Charter boat operators were joined by commercial fishermen Saturday, Feb. 17, to air grievances about proposed restrictions on catching Atlantic striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay.
About 75 people, including Mid-Shore political leaders and 1st District congressional candidate Chris Bruneau, attended the afternoon forum hosted by Delmarva Fisheries Association and the Maryland Charter Boat Association at the Talbot County Community Center.
Attending the 1 p.m. forum, were Maryland Sen. Johnny Mautz (R-Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, Wicomico); Del. Tom Hutchinson (R-Dorchester, Talbot, Wicomico); Kent County Commission President Ron Fithian and Kent County Economic and Tourism Development Director Jamie Williams.
At issue is the economic impact the restrictions will have on the charter boat industry and the ripple effect among related businesses if the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission get their way, panelists said.
“We’ve got to put a stop to this,” said Fisheries Association Chairman Robert Newberry.
Newberry was part the panel explaining the issue and proposing solutions, along with Capt. Brian Hardman, president of the Maryland Charter Boat Association; Capt. Ken Jeffries, vice president of the Upper Bay Charter Captains Association; commercial waterman Brian Nesspor of Rock Hall; attorney James Butera of Meeks, Butera & Israel in Washington, D.C.; and David Reel of Quantum Communications.
An emergency action enacted in 2023 by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission restricting the size and number of rockfish — as striped bass are known locally — that can be caught by recreational anglers. That emergency action was extended in January 2024 for implementation May 1. Although charter boats operate for profit, they fall under the recreational fishing designation.
The commission’s action “was approved to reduce fishing mortality in 2024 and support stock rebuilding,” according to its website. ASMFC “has served as a deliberative body of the Atlantic coastal states, coordinating the conservation and management of 27 nearshore fish species,” according to Asmfc.org, Three commissioners from each state serve on the commission, along with other representatives. Each of the 15 states from Maine to Florida has one vote.
Maryland commissioners are Lynn Waller Fegley, DNR director of fishing and boating services, whose ongoing proxy is Michael Luisi, DNR director of the monitoring and assessment division; Russell Dize of Tilghman, vice president of the Maryland Watermen’s Association, whose proxy is Robert Brown, president of the Maryland Watermen’s Association; and Del. Dana Stein (D-11B), whose proxy is David Sikorski, executive director of Coastal Conservation Association Maryland.
“I can’t believe that ... other states can dictate how a business is run in the state of Maryland, and how they can create financial havoc on a business in the state of Maryland,” Hardman said.
“They’re Godzilla,” Newberry said.
States must submit implementation plans by March 1 for Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission board review and approval. The commission’s 19-inch to 24-inch slot limit, one-fish bag limit, is too restrictive, and the economic impact will have far-reaching effects, forum participants said.
“The bottom line is they want to address the overfishing in the Chesapeake Bay and the coasts of striped bass by … recreational fishermen,” Newberry said. “They said commercial (fishing) is not the problem.”
I still don't see any long-term solution other than a moratorium.
The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Country Girls up on time at The Other McCain.
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