A lawsuit was recently filed in Federal court by the Delmarva Fisheries Association (DFA) and the Maryland Charter Boat Association (MCBA). The suit challenges a mandate for new Striped Bass fishing regulations in Maryland. The mandate is from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Since the lawsuit was filed there has been an outpouring of support from those who understand this mandate has already had and will have a devastating impact far beyond watermen and charter boat captains.
Others impacted negatively include Eastern Shore hotels, motels, restaurants, businesses, and merchants who depend upon wild fishery harvests and charter boat tourism.
The Rural Counties Coalition of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) has expressed the following concerns. “These regulations will affect local small business models that operate in the charter boat and commercial fishing industries as well. Rural counties along Maryland’s shoreline depend on these industries and oppose these changes, as they will dramatically affect economic development and the livelihood of small business owners. Many of Maryland’s waterfront businesses will undoubtedly bear financial losses due to the restrictions. For many years, these industries have operated with restrictions in harvesting and strict regulatory compliance yet have remained in operation. The proposed restrictions will be a point that may force good businesses to close and may prohibit other businesses from locating within Maryland’s coastal counties. “In addition to the MACo support letter, the Boards of Commissioners in Dorchester County, Queen Anne’s County, and Kent County have submitted comparable letters. More are expected.
Support for the DFA and MCBA lawsuit goes well beyond Maryland.
The East Coast Fishing Coalition (ECFC) represents over eight hundred for-hire charter and party boats across Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. The president of ECFC has written “We share in your concerns, as these actions threaten not only the present viability of our businesses but also the long-term sustainability of the for-hire sector of the fishing industry. If these decisions are not rectified, we anticipate a significant decline in business that will persist well into the future. The ramifications also extend beyond our industry, impacting businesses such as hotels, restaurants, tackle shops, and other merchants that rely on our operations to sustain their own livelihoods.”
DFA and MCBA are represented by the McCloud Law Group in Chestertown and Meeks Butera & Israel, Washington, D.C.
Captain Rob Newberry
Chair Delmarva Fisheries Association.
Glenn Glasgow says
I live in Easton, on the Miles River, and have seen sport fishing for Rockfish decline over the years I’ve lived here. I have fished in other areas on the East Coast, where they have stricter regulations, and the fishing is so much better in these areas, there is no comparison. When my boat is in dry dock for the winter, I have been out with a charter Captain, and had trips where only one fish was caught all day. If we kick the can down the road, the fishery will only get worse, and take a longer recovery time. Please do something now.
Rececca Ellison says
Nowhere in this letter is it said that fisheries stocks are presently at or above ‘sustainable’ population levels. In a push-back on increased regulation such as this is, one would expect to hear that the stocks are not in need of increased regulation.
However, this letter (as well as the lawsuit?) addresses only the possible negative impacts to human economic endeavors. Why is there no mention or discussion of the anticipated positive impact of the proposed regulations on the health and numbers of the existing wild fish populations?
Surely the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission depends heavily upon a comparison of current (and past) fish health and population data with current (and past) fisheries pressures (including disease impacts, catch data, environmental changes etc.) as it works to fulfill its mandate of preserving and protecting wild fish populations, especially with regards to the creation and adjustment of fishery regulations.
This letter announcing litigation does not actually say that Fisheries Commission erred in any way. It does not say that Fisheries data (present or historic) is inadequate or flawed or that their calculations or prediction methods are (or historically have been) inadequate or flawed.
Perhaps the proposed regulations are ‘good for’ the fish and, ultimately, the fisheries, simply on the face of it. But perhaps what is good for the fish is not seen to be good enough to outweigh the possible downside for the extended fishery and remotely-related ‘business’ such as hotels?
Surely there are multiple impressive instances where prompt, thoughtful adjustments of hunting/fishing regulations allowed a particular wild population to rebound.
In fact, hasn’t one of these success stories already taken place with Striped Bass?
Jerry McConnell says
Lots of we recreation sport fishing enthusiasts strongly support the proposed reduction in daily rockfish catch limits. In fact, based upon the most recent population surveys and fishery data,a complete closure of the fishery would be warranted—and make perfect senset—to anyone but the charter boat operators and the commercial fishermen who use gill nets.
In the early 80’s the rockfish population had declined so drastically by overfishing—especially by commercial fishermen—that the fishery was completely closed in 1985, for a number of years. The population numbers right now are just as bad—if not worse —than then.
You’ll never find a commercial waterman or commercial charter operator who doesn’t think the limits are too low and the regulations and regulators too restrictive. All you need to do is look at the record of failures by the Maryland DNR and the Federal Fisheries Administration in protecting the Bay’s fish and shellfish to see that they have continued to put these resources at risk of collapse.
Commercial fishing in the Chesapeake Bay has a huge impact on fish and shellfish populations …to the extent that unless the states and federal government government restored and continue to subsidize the oyster industry, it would be gone.
Don’t expect commercial interests to do anything by whine about new catch limits or regulations. They make a living harvesting our natural resources, and they expect us to maintain those resources for their benefit until they catch the last rockfish of crab or oyster.
Those of us who have been enjoying the last 50-plus years catching of rockfish in the Bay know that the biggest threat to continued recreational fishing, crabbing, and oystering are the people fighting this proposed reduction in daily catches.