Maryland Legislative Committee Delays Striped Bass Protections
On Friday, Maryland’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review delayed striped bass regulation changes that could better protect the struggling species.
The Committee, which has been reviewing the Maryland Department of Natural Resource (DNR)’s proposed striped bass seasonal adjustment, has delayed implementation of the new regulations to conduct additional research.
The Committee can enforce its delay until May 1, placing the proposed April changes at risk. Maryland’s striped bass seasons are a complex patchwork of fishing days, no harvest days, and no target days. DNR’s proposed adjustment would simplify that. A delay will only further angler confusion and challenge proper enforcement in the coming months.
The proposed adjustment would also establish a no target fishing closure for the entire month of August. This closure would protect striped bass in the hottest part of the summer when they experience the highest rates of catch-and-release mortality.
At the same time, Maryland legislators are considering a proposed bill (SB0755) that would counteract DNR’s authority to update striped bass fishing regulations. It’s vital that legislators reject this bill and move forward with DNR’s seasonal adjustment as proposed, which over 250 Chesapeake Bay Foundation members supported.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden issued the following statement:
“Maryland’s decision to delay striped bass protections is disappointing, especially while lawmakers consider troublesome legislation that would strip away DNR’s authority to implement striped bass protections.
“We know this species has been struggling for years. Young striped bass aren’t surviving early life, and mature fish are dying at high rates during the hot summer months. Maryland must address these challenges before it’s too late. That’s why we urge legislators to reject SB0755 and adopt DNR’s seasonal adjustments to give striped bass a fighting chance.”
