Illegal Gill Nets Plague the Chesapeake Bay

   
by Tony Friedrich

CCA MD Executive Director

Baltimore Sun Outdoor Writer Candus Thomson called yesterday and alerted me to what will be the largest single gill net violation in the last 25 years.  I had to see for myself, so I drove over to Matapeake State Park to watch the off load.  I saw 900 yards of illegal nets on the decks of two boats.  I saw hundreds of dead stripers, a few big mud shad, and even sea ducks being cut from this anchored wall of death.
This net was anchored, untended, was set before the opening of the season which started on February 1at 3 a.m. This illegal net and the people that set it claimed more than 6,000 pounds of striped bass, five times the amount allowed per day on a commercial vessel in the Bay.  It’s hard for people to imagine what this looks like in person, so I’ve included several images (link). 
Thankfully, these fish will not be wasted as they will be sold to raise funds for the Natural Resources Police (NPR).  However, this incident raises several key issues.  First, how many more of these nets are plaguing the Bay? There are reportedly many more illegal nets out there and the NRP are after them. What happens when many of these illegally anchored nets are abandoned once the word gets out that NRP is on the prowl?
Candus asked me, “What else can we do?”  For some time CCA has worked with the Department of Natural Resources tirelessly on this issue.   To the Department’s credit, it has answered many of our concerns by creating harsher penalties and increased enforcement.  In my experience these are the finest men and women the DNR has had on staff.   We’ve also worked closely with the Natural Resources Police and donated thousands of dollars in equipment, some of which may have used in this very same bust.  You won’t find a more committed group of people anywhere.  But they are woefully understaffed and under-equipped. They need our support now more than ever with potential budget cuts looming in the General Assembly.
Even the courts have answered our pleas. Working with the Department, they established a dedicated Natural Resources Docket once a month in the District Court for Anne Arundel County. This approach will likely be instituted throughout the state's other District Courts in the coming year.  DNR, NRP, and the Maryland Judiciary have all not only recognized a problem but also addressed it.  That’s all you can ask from your fisheries managers.  Yet, today I watched dead striper after dead striper cut from a never ending pile of illegal net.  There are more out there right now, abusing our resources.  Many will never be found and few will face charges for these crimes.
CCA Maryland firmly believes that striped bass are a public resource. What I saw today was a crime against all the citizens of Maryland. It was a slap in the face to the Department of Natural Resources which tries to be fair even in the face of mounting evidence. It’s an insult to those commercial fishermen that abide by the rules, even when some of their neighbors and friends refuse to do so. How much longer can we risk the health of striped bass stocks for a few outlaws? How much tolerance are the people of Maryland expected to have? Please stay tuned for more information because the story is still unfolding. In fact, I just got back from Matapeake this morning. They have located several more nets and already hauled in another 5000lbs of illegally netted striped bass with more coming into port as you read this.
You can read Candy’s outstanding article on The Sun’s website, http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bs-sp-rockfish-poaching-20110201,0,3432078.story. Additional coverage will likely appear in The Sun this Sunday.
Busy schedule ahead for CCA MD

TIEFEST SET FOR SATURDAY, FEB. 12         

There’s no need to suffer from cabin fever during the next two months with the number of angling events CCA Maryland has scheduled during February and March. Anglers can choose from one of the foremost fly fishing events in the Atlantic region to a celebration of CCA MD’s advocacy efforts to one of three chapter banquets.
            The annual TieFest opens the busy schedule Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Kent Narrows Yacht Club and will again include some of the world’s foremost fly anglers including Lefty Kreh, Bob Clouser, Bob Popovics, Steve Silverio, and Brad Buzzy. The one-day event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
            During the day there will be numerous tying demonstrations along with members of the Mid Atlantic Fly Casters providing individual casting instruction. Weather permitting Kreh will present an hour-long casting lesson.
            “One of the great aspects of TieFest is that anyone can walk up to these internationally-known anglers and ask them any question or request that they demonstrate a pattern,” said Ton Friedrich, CCA MD executive director and organizer of TieFest.
            In addition to the tyers, a number of vendors will attend demonstrating new equipment, and local guides will discuss fishing opportunities in the Chesapeake region.
            Attendees will also be able to bid on a Temple Fork Axion nine foot, nine weight fly rod donated by Kreh, a Regal vise and tying lesson donated by Silverio, and numerous personally-tied flies by the featured tyers..

2^ND ANNUAL YELLOW PERCH APPRECIATION DAY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY. MARCH 5
            The restoration of the yellow perch fishery, which CCA MD fought for for more than a decade, will be celebrated Saturday, March 5, at North East Community Park, North East, MD.
            The day will feature a fishing tournament, events for kids, and presentations by state officials.

TWO CHAPTER BANQUETS ON TAP

            The Upper Bay Chapter kicks off the banquet season will its annual dinner and auction set for Saturday, Feb. 12 at the North East VFW starting at 6 p.m.
            The Greater Washington Chapter will hold its banquet and auction Thursday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase.
       
            “Attendees at all of these banquets will have the chance to bid on outstanding hunting and fishing trips along with dinners and other items,” said Friedrich. “Information and tickets can be obtains from the state office, tony@ccamd.org.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ACTIVITIES

Activity in the 2011 Session of the Maryland General Assembly is just now starting to pick up. Members of the Government Relations Committee will testify next Tuesday in support of Senate Bill 159, whose primary sponsor is Senator Brian E. Frosh. The Bill would strengthen penalties for those convicted of oyster poaching, including possible revocation of their license. The hearing will be before the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee at 1:00 PM and is open to the public.

           

            The Committee is closely monitoring DNR’s work to uncover the abuse of our striped bass fishery caused by gill nets and what can be done to help prevent this from happening. Look for more information to come.