Gaboon Race on the Lower Bay this Sunday

     Newport News, Va. -- Mariners are advised that the 34th Gaboon Race is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 4 from noon to 5 p.m. The sailing race will be in the vacinity of the Hampton Flats and Newport News Middle Ground. The Coast Guard is advising mariners to use caution and bare steerage when transiting the area.
     Race organizers say the staggered start race is open to all and marks the official season end of "big boat" racing on the southern Bay. Racers must have a valid PHRF rating certificate (or a provisional one) to enter.
     The start/finish line is between the orange flag staff on the Hampton Yacht Club dock and the blue rock on the Hampton University shore.
     For additional information and to enter, contact Phil Briggs at 757-723-5477.

Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade Saturday, December 10

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the annual Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade is scheduled to occur in Annapolis Harbor and Spa Creek on Saturday, December 10, 2011, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event consists of two separate, designated boat parade routes. As described in Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations Section 100.501, Coast Guard special local regulations establish a temporary regulated area in the approaches to Annapolis Harbor, the waters of Spa Creek, and the Severn River, shore to shore, bounded on the south by a line drawn from Carr Point, at latitude 38°58'58.0" N, longitude 076°27'40.0" W, thence to Horn Point Warning Light (LLNR–17935), at 38°58'24.0" N, longitude 076°28'10.0" W, thence to Horn Point, at 38°58'20.0" N, longitude 076°28'27.0" W; and bounded on the north by the Naval Academy (State Route 450) fixed bridge.

     The regulated area will be enforced from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on December 10, 2011. The Coast Guard Patrol Commander may forbid and control the movement of all vessels in the regulated area. Coast Guard vessels enforcing this regulated area can be contacted on marine band radio channel 16 or 22A VHF-FM.

     When hailed or signaled by an official patrol vessel, a vessel in the area shall immediately comply with the directions given. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the area, citation for failure to comply, or both.

     Mariners are urged to schedule their transits on this portion of the waterway beyond the enforcement times.

For any comments or questions contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Charts 12282, 12283.

Eastport Yacht Club Fireworks Scheduled for December 10

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the Eastport Yacht Club will sponsor its annual fireworks display discharged from a barge located at the mouth of Spa Creek on Saturday, December 10 (no rain date), at approximately 8 p.m. The fireworks display follows the annual Eastport Yacht Club lights parade.
     As described in Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations Section 165.506, a temporary safety zone is established on specified waters of the Severn River and Spa Creek, within an area bounded by a line drawn from 38°58′39.6″ N, 076°28′49″ W, thence to 38°58′41″ N, 076°28′14″ W, thence to 38°59′01″ N, 076°28′37″ W, thence to 38°58′57″ N, 076°28′40″ W, located near the entrance to Spa Creek in Annapolis, Maryland.
     This zone will be enforced from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on December 10 and is necessary to control vessel traffic for safety of life and property on navigable waters during the display. The effect will be to restrict vessel traffic on specified waters of the Severn River and Spa Creek.
     The fireworks barge will have a sign on its port and starboard sides labeled FIREWORKS--DANGER--STAY AWAY to provide on scene notice that the safety zone will be enforced. Vessels may not enter, remain in, or transit through the safety zone during the enforcement period unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port or designated Coast Guard patrol personnel on scene. Other Federal, State and local agencies may assist these personnel in the enforcement of the safety zone.
     For any comments or questions contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at 410-576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12283.

Washington D.C. Lighted Boat Parade December 3

     Washington, D.C. -- Mariners are advised that a holiday season lighted boat parade is scheduled to occur in the Upper Potomac River on Saturday, December 3. Up to 50 various-sized vessels will form north of Bolling Air Force Base at approximately 4 p.m., start on a route that proceeds to and along the waterfront at Washington, DC at approximately 5 p.m., and turns and heads downriver to and along the waterfront at Alexandria, VA from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and finishes at 8 p.m. For any comments or questions contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12289.

Maryland DNR Renovates the Downtown Sailing Center

     Baltimore, Md. -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Boating Services and Downtown Sailing Center in Baltimore recently held a ribbon cutting to officially open the newly renovated marina located in the Inner Harbor.
     “The Department of Natural Resources is committed to ensuring that everyone can enjoy boating on Maryland’s waterways,” said Bob Gaudette, DNR’s Director of Boating Services. “By partnering with the City of Baltimore and the Downtown Sailing Center we were able to construct a major boating access facility for persons with disabilities, making this project an overwhelming success.”
     DNR began the project in September 2010 and it was completed on September 23, 2011. The agency constructed concrete piers recycled from the Inner Harbor Marina to enhance the existing marine facility. The newly configured dock layout serves multiple purposes; it creates a bigger platform to accommodate a larger number of people, allows for easier wheelchair access onto vessels, and provides more space for larger boats. The entire facility is designed to meet ADA requirements.
     “The Downtown Sailing Center Marina improvements provide significant access to Baltimore’s Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay,” said the Center’s Executive Director, Kristen Berry. “The funding for this project enables us to provide sailing instruction and experiential programs for members of the public, including a specific focus on Baltimore area youth and people with disabilities.”
     The total project cost was $300,000. State grants were provided through the DNR Waterway Improvement Fund. Revenue for the fund comes from the one-time 5 percent excise tax paid when a boat is titled in the State of Maryland. This fund has financed over 300 public boating access sites statewide and supports boating safety, dredging, environmental and resource protection projects that benefit the general boating public.

Father and Son Win Fall MSSA Tournament

   Annapolis, Md. -- Anglers from Maine to North Carolina made their way to Maryland this past weekend to test their skills and promote recreational fishing on the Chesapeake Bay as the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA) hosted the 19th annual Chesapeake Bay Fall Classic, the largest fall rockfish tournament on the Bay.

     Two hundred and fifty boats carrying over 1,500 anglers took to the water to try to reel in the big one for their share of the prize money and of course bragging rights. The MSSA and its volunteers set up 8 weigh stations from Sandy Point state park to Point Lookout.

     "This tournament, like our others, lures anglers from Maryland and other states to the Bay and gives our local communities a little boost and of course gives our members one last chance to participate in this great fishery,” said Dave Smith, Executive Director of the MSSA. 

     This was the final tournament in the 2011 MSSA Tournament Series which consists of three total events including the largest rockfish tournament in the country the Championship on the Chesapeakeand the offshore Tuna-ment.

     First place went to Steve Dodson and son Mike of Pasadena, Maryland for their 51.65 pound rockfish. The father and son team caught the 51+ pounder at the mouth of the Choptank on the first day of the tournament. Dodson weighed the fish in at Taylors Island Family Campground, one of the two weigh stations on the Eastern Shore. Caught on tandem Bloody Point bait he purchased at Alltackle during the tournament captains meetings, Dodson and his son Mike will be taking $21,875 for their catch.

     Smith said the Bloody Point baits have won the last three bay tournaments the MSSA has hosted.

     Second place went to Andrew Turner of Brandywine, Maryland with his 42.45 pound rockfish. Turner was accompanied by Lee Tippett of the Fin Finder as they trolled the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Their efforts paid off late in the game as they hooked up with the beast around 3:00 PM on Sunday.

     Tippett said they were bringing the lines in when they hooked up and were surprised when they brought it to the boat. Turner will walk away with $43,225 and top payout of the tournament. While Turner took second place, he took first place in all of the Tournament Within a Tournament (TWT’s).

     Third place went to John Patchett of Fallston, Maryland for his 41.5 pound rockfish. Patchett will be taking home over $15,000 for his third place fish and several TWT’s. 

Youth Division
     The MSSA started the youth division in the fall tournament in 2010 and it has quickly become one of the anglers’ favorite aspects of the tournament. The MSSA has made it their mission for many years to educate and encourage youth fishing in the state of Maryland through fishing clinics, camps, and contests/tournaments.

     The youth division of the Fall Classic is for any child 16 years of age and under. The MSSA only asks that the youth angler participate in the catch as much as possible.
1st place – Gavin Ridgeway – 38.8 lbs
2nd place – Matt Long – 35.5 lbs
3rd place – Jake Meadows – 33.9 lbs
4th place – Cameron Connor – 31.75 lbs
5th place – Jennifer Tippett – 31.6 lbs
6th place – C.J. Lowe – 29.3 lbs
7th place – Michael Harris – 28.6 lbs
8th place – Jimmy Tippett – 27.2 lbs
9th place – Steven Hepburn – 27.05 lbs
10th place – Austin Duffey – 25.6 lbs

Unofficial Results

     Smith said all results are unofficial until he and the Tournament Committee can check and confirm all fish weights and the winners pass their respective polygraph tests.

    For more information on this tournament and the MSSA you may visit www.mssa.net or call 410-255-5535. 

Final Standings - All Polygraphs Certified Passed
Top Payouts
Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett - $43,225
Steve Dodson - $21,875
John Patchett - $15,410
Doug Scott - $8,100
Marty Simounet - $2,440

Main Tournament
1st Place – Steve Dodson – 51.65 lbs - $21,875
2nd Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett - $13,125
3rd Place - John Patchett – 41.5 lbs – 8,750

TWT’s
$50
1st Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett – 42.45 lbs - $2,075
2nd Place – John Patchett – 41.5 lbs - $1,245
3rd Place - Doug Scott – 41 lbs - $830

$100
1st Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett – 42.45 lbs - $3,850
2nd Place – John Patchett – 41.5 lbs - $2,310
3rd Place - Doug Scott – 41 lbs - $1,540

$150
1st Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett – 42.45 lbs – $5,175
2nd Place – John Patchett – 41.5 lbs - $3,105
3rd Place - Doug Scott – 41 lbs - $2,070

$200
1st Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett – 42.45 lbs - $6,100
2nd Place - Doug Scott – 41 lbs - $3,660
3rd Place - Marty Simounet – 40.25 lbs - $2,440

$300
1st Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett – 42.45 lbs - $12,900

Headed South? Watch Out for Shoaling at Oregon Inlet

     Wilmington, N.C. -- The Coast Guard is warning mariners of shoaling near the center span of the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge at Oregon Inlet, N.C.

     A survey conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers noted water depths as low as two feet in the federal navigation channel that runs through the main bridge span.

     Shoaling, driven by the recent nor’easter, has accelerated during the last two weeks with water depths dropping in the channel from 18 feet to less than three feet. Deeper draft vessels are not able to safely navigate the channel and should use alternate routes.

     All mariners are urged to exercise extreme caution in the area and limit their transits to high water tidal periods. Continued shoaling may force shallow draft vessels to seek alternate waterways to access the Atlantic Ocean.

     For more information, including recent inlet depths, visit the Army Corps of Engineers Web site at http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/nav/.

Baltimore's Parade of Lighted Boats Scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3

     Baltimore, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the “Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats” is scheduled to occur in Baltimore Harbor on Saturday, December 3. The holiday season boat parade consisting of up to 25 various-sized vessels operating on a counter-clockwise route, will begin to form near Fells Point in Northwest Harbor at 5 p.m., then proceed to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor at 6 p.m. and finish at Fells Point at 7:30 p.m.  Interested mariners may contact the Parade Marshall boat on marine band radio channels 16 or 69 VHF-FM, if necessary.  Chart : 12281.

Foundation System Complete for Choptank River Lighthouse Replica

     Cambridge, Md. -- Progress on constructing the Choptank River Lighthouse replica is going strong. In late October, the foundation system—seven 70-foot screwpiles and various supports—was finished by marine contractors Dissen & Juhn. Take a look at Long Wharf these days and you'll get a sense of the lighthouse's footprint. The next step is to build the cottage structure of the lighthouse. As soon as revisions for fire code compliance are complete, along with final contract negotiations, work on the lighthouse cottage will begin. The estimated start date is in December and the construction will last about seven months. You can drive by or cruise past Long Wharf in the weeks ahead to watch the progress toward completion.

     Find out more at http://www.choptankriverlighthouse.org.

Solomons Island Boat Parade Dec. 3

     Solomons, Md. -- Mariners are advised that an annual holiday season lighted boats parade is scheduled to occur at Solomons, Maryland on Saturday, December 3, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The boat parade consists of up to 15 various-sized vessels operating on a route that includes portions of the Patuxent River, Solomons Harbor and Back Creek. For any comments or questions contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Charts: 12264, 12284.

Lighted Boats to Shine on Middle River Nov. 26

      Essex, Md. -- The Middle River Parade of Lighted Boats will return this year after a one-year break, and mariners can get into the holiday spirit by participating in the parade or viewing this visual feast for the eyes.
     This year’s parade begins at 6 p.m. on Nov. 26. It’s a free event and you can view it from Wilson Point State Park or one of the many waterfront dining establishments in the area.
     The parade route will begin at Dark Head Cove, travel into Frog Mortar Creek and Hopkins Creek before returning to Dark Head Cove.
     As of today, there were 23 boats registered for the parade.
     Mariners wishing to participate in the parade can contact Jim High at 410-404-3013.

Fireworks Scheduled at National Harbor Area Friday, Nov. 25

     National Harbor, Md. -- Mariners are advised that an aerial fireworks display is scheduled to occur on the Potomac River on Friday, November 25 (rain date November 26), at approximately 7 p.m. As described in Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations Section 165.506, a temporary safety zone is established for all waters of the Potomac River, within an area bounded by a line drawn from the following points: latitude 38°47’18” N, longitude 077°01’01” W; thence to latitude 38°47’11” N, longitude 077°01’26” W; thence to latitude 38°47’25” N, longitude 077°01’33” W; thence to latitude 38°47’32” N, longitude 077°01’08” W; thence to the point of origin, located at National Harbor, Maryland (NAD 1983).
     This zone will be enforced from 6 p.m. through 9 p.m. on November 25, and if necessary due to inclement weather, from 6 p.m. through 9 p.m. on November 26. The zone is necessary to control vessel traffic for safety of life and property on navigable waters during the event. The effect will be to restrict vessel traffic on a portion of the Potomac River. All vessels and persons are prohibited from entering this zone, except as authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Baltimore.
     Persons or vessels requiring entry into or passage within the safety zone must first request authorization from the COTP Baltimore or his designated representative by telephone at 410-576-2693 or on marine band radio VHF-FM channel 16. All Coast Guard assets enforcing this safety zone can be contacted on marine band radio VHF-FM Channel 13 and 16. The U.S. Coast Guard may be assisted in the patrol and enforcement of the zone by Federal, State and local agencies. For any comments or questions contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12289.

Coast Guard Investigating Sunken Boat at Norfolk Marina

 Portsmouth, Va. — The Coast Guard is investigating a sunken boat at a marina located near the 4300 block of Colley Avenue in Norfolk, Monday. Norfolk Fire Rescue notified the Coast Guard at 9:45 a.m. that the 40-foot boat was partially submerged and releasing a sheen from residual oil products aboard.
     Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads deployed personnel from the incident management division to assess the situation and the potential impact to the environment. The responding Coast Guard personnel deployed containment boom around the boat and the sheen. The cause of the incident is under investigation by the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard Aircrew Rescues 2 Near Hooper's Island

     Hoopers Island, Md. -- The Coast Guard rescued two people aboard a 36-foot sailboat after they had run aground near Hooper's Island, Maryland Friday.

     A crewmember aboard the Little Star contacted Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Baltimore at 5:01 a.m. and reported they were hindered by the weather and ran out of food.

     An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., arrived on scene and hoisted the two people aboard the helicopter.

     The people were transported to Crisfield Municipal Airport in Crisfield, Maryland, and transferred to awaiting emergency medical personnel.

Fisheries Managers Set More Conservative Standards for Menhaden

     Boston, Mass. -- New fishery management benchmarks for Atlantic menhaden, often called "the most important fish in the sea," were established yesterday in an effort to increase its population to four times the current size. The measure was adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the interstate body that governs the menhaden fishery, after an intensive two-month campaign led by the Pew Environment Group.
     "Today's vote is a welcome step for a fish that hasn't caught a break since Dwight Eisenhower was president," said Peter Baker, director of Northeast Fisheries at the Pew Environment Group. "Scientists have warned that having too few menhaden in the water could result in disastrous impacts on the fish and wildlife that eat them."
     During its meeting, the ASMFC agreed with its scientific advisors and set more conservative fishing standards to help menhaden stocks recover. The fishery, the largest on the East Coast by weight, has exceeded the designated "safe fishing target" every year since 1960. As a result, the population is at less than 10 percent of historic levels.
     "In looking at studies over the past few decades, we see declining amounts of menhaden in the diets of striped bass, ospreys, bluefish, and weakfish," said Holly Binns, director of Southeast Fish Conservation at the Pew Environment Group. "Saltwater fishing, whale watching, and bird watching -- which rely on species that eat menhaden -- generate hundreds of millions of dollars per year on the East Coast. The new benchmarks will help sustain our coastal economies and communities."
     About three-quarters of the Atlantic menhaden catch comes from the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding ocean waters. Most of these fish are ground up and reduced to fish meal and oil for use as dietary supplements, fertilizer, farm animal feed, and pet food.
     "More and more, we see that menhaden, herring, and other so-called forage fish -- the species that the larger, better-known fish eat -- are an irreplaceable link in the ocean food chain," said Baker. "Today's decision marks a watershed moment, where the ASMFC embraced the challenge of managing the entire ecosystem, not just one species. We look forward to working with the Commission to establish new rules that enforce these targets."
     The Pew Environment Group works globally to establish pragmatic, science-based policies that protect oceans, preserve wildlands, and promote the clean energy economy.

Virginia Closes Winter Crab Dredge Fishery Again

     Newport News, Va. -- The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted 9-0 to close the winter crab dredge fishery season for the fourth year in a row. The commission decided the action was necessary in order to continue to rebuild the crab stock, and that while great progress has been made more work remains to be done to bring the population back to healthy, sustainable levels. Also, the commission voted 9-0 to set the 2011-2012 oyster season regulations, including a 10 bushel daily limit for most public oyster grounds and a 30 bushel vessel limit.

Leonardtown Chef Wins National Oyster Cook-Off Grand Slam

     Leonardtown, Md. -- Loic Jaffres, chef and owner of Café des Artistes in Leonardtown, won a sweep in the National Oyster Cook-Off held in Leonardtown, open to both home cooks and professional chefs. Jaffres’ dish took first place in the hors d’oeuvres division and then won the people’s choice, best presentation and overall grand prize awards. This is the first time a contestant was honored with all three awards.
     “I started to create this dish the day after last year’s competition and perfected it throughout the year,” said Jaffres.
     Jaffres’ Spinach Wrapped Oysters Casino earned him $1,300, three engraved silver trays, and the honor of the national title. He presented his creation in individual cups inside a treasure chest made of sugar surrounded by oyster shells.
     Jaffres has competed in the National Oyster Cook-off since 2008 and until now has not reached his ultimate goal of the grand prize.
     In the Soups & Stews category, Judy Armstrong of Prairieville, La. took first place for her Marjoram Oyster and Baby Bella Soup. This creamy soup blended flavors from marjoram, mushrooms, leeks and Camembert.
     Amy Angelo from Pennsville, N.J. won the main dish category with her Oyster Pot Pie and Bacon Crust, a comfort dish she made with oysters and vegetables in a creamy sauce and pie crust embedded with bacon pieces.
     The 32nd Annual National Oyster Cook-Off was held in conjunction with the St. Mary’s Oyster Festival in Leonardtown. The festival is attended by over 15,000 people from across the United States. The Rotary Club of Lexington Park runs the festival and the proceeds go to local charities, educational scholarships, assistance grants, and Rotary International projects. It is home to the National Oyster Shucking contest.
     The National Oyster Cook-Off was sponsored by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Seafood Marketing Program, the Rotary Club of Lexington Park and the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development. A cookbook containing 32 award winning recipes is available by sending a check for $8 to National Oyster Cook-Off, P.O. Box 653, D.E.C.D., Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Spinach Wrapped Oysters Casino

Loic Jaffres
Leonardtown, MD

1 pound & 1 tablespoon butter (room temp)
2 shallots (finely chopped)
1 red & 1 green pepper (diced very fine)
1 cup dry white wine
2 cloves garlic (chopped)
2 tablespoons parsley (chopped)
1 pint of Maryland Oysters (drained)
12 large spinach leaves (washed)
6 slices bacon (julienned)
salt & pepper

Prepare Casino Butter: Melt 1 Tablespoon butter in medium sauté pan, add shallots & peppers; sauté until shallots are translucent. Add white wine & simmer until wine is almost gone (dry). Add garlic and chopped parsley – set aside to cool. When cool, mix with 1 pound softened butter, adding salt & pepper to taste.

Blanch spinach leaves quickly in hot salted water. Lay flat and top each with one oyster. Roll (& fold) as necessary. Place oyster back in shell & top with the casino butter. Preheat Broiler to 350 degrees. Place rock salt on a sheet or baking pan about ¼” thick. Secure oysters on top of salt base. Place under broiler for 7-8 minutes or until butter is bubbly. While the oysters are cooking, sauté the julienned strips of bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels. When the oysters are done, top with the bacon strips and serve.

Report Says USFWS Fisheries Program Contributes $3.6 Billion to Nation's Economy

     Washington, D.C. -- The fisheries program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in association with state agencies and other conservation organizations, contributes $3.6 billion to the nation’s economy and supports 68,000 jobs across the country, according to a new report issued by the agency.
     “The report confirms once again that fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreational activities are an economic engine for our country,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “When we invest in restoring fish and wildlife habitat and creating opportunities for people to enjoy outdoor recreation, we are investing in economic growth and jobs for the American people.”
     Overall, hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation contribute an estimated $730 billion to the U.S. economy each year, Salazar noted. One in twenty U.S. jobs are in the recreation economy – more than there are doctors, lawyers, or teachers.
     The report, Conserving America’s Fisheries, An Assessment of Economic Contributions from Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Conservation, shows that each dollar invested in the Service’s Fisheries Program, combined with its partners, generates about $28 in economic contributions and value.
     The economic contributions generated are evidenced at sporting goods stores, marinas, guides and outfitter services, boat dealerships, bait shops, gas stations, cafes, hotels, and many other enterprises.
     “Since 1871, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries Program has been a leader in managing species, conserving habitat and sustaining the biological health of America’s aquatic resources,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “These resources are inextricably tied to the health and wealth of our nation. These benefits are ecological, scientific, aesthetic, recreational, commercial, subsistence, social, cultural – and economic in nature.”
     The report – the first time that Service economists have analyzed the economic contributions of the nation’s fisheries programs – finds that a total of 68,000 American jobs are associated, directly or indirectly, with the fisheries conservation programs and projects.
     The report also shows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Fish Hatchery System alone generates $900 million in industrial output and $550 million in retail sales. National Fish Hatchery programs generate 8,000 jobs and $256 million in salaries and wages.
     Meanwhile, the National Fish Passage Program works with partners to reopen an average of 890 miles of river habitat annually, which has a economic value of $483 million and supports 11,000 jobs. That is more than $542,000 in economic benefit per stream mile restored.
     The Service’s Fisheries Program plays a vital role in conserving America’s fisheries, along with key partners from states, tribes, federal agencies, other Service programs, and private interests.
      The fisheries program consists of almost 800 employees nationwide, located in 65 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices, 70 National Fish Hatcheries, 9 Fish Health Centers, 7 Fish Technology Centers and a Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives.
     The program supports the only federal fish hatchery system, with extensive experience culturing more than 100 different aquatic species.
     These employees and facilities provide a network that is unique in its broad on-the-ground geographic coverage, its array of technical and managerial capabilities, and its ability to work across political boundaries and embrace a national perspective.
     For a copy of the report, or to see the summary of the report titled Net Worth: the Economic Value of Fisheries Conservation, please visit http://www.fws.gov/fisheries.

Pride of Baltimore II Ends Season Today

    Baltimore, Md. -- The tall ship Pride of Baltimore II completes its 2011 season today with a final sail from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The ship recently returned to Baltimore after sailing the Chesapeake Bay, the East Coast and the Great Lakes for five months.
     Tickets for the final sail are $45 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under. Free dockside tours of the deck will also be given between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
     During today's sail, park rangers from Fort McHenry will be dressed in period uniforms and will offer information about the tall ships' role in the War of 1812.

Maritime Museum Hosting Watermen's Event

     St. Michaels, Md. -- On Wednesday, November 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD will host "Other than Oysters…Tools, Tastes, and Traditions of Watermen in Winter" at its Oystering on the Chesapeake building. The event is free for museum members or $10 for non-members, with space limited and pre-registration needed by November 7.
     "Other than Oysters…Tools, Tastes, and Traditions of Watermen in Winter" will focus on the importance of fresh, locally-caught seafood to watermen, the environment, the community, and the consumer.
     Participants will explore the tools, tastes, and traditions of the waterman’s wintertime world as they sample, sip, and learn about the bounty of the icy Chesapeake Bay. The event includes samplings of locally-caught seafood with selected wine pairings, and an opportunity to watch and chat with working watermen as they demonstrate their trade.
     "We wanted to connect people more directly to the bay and its bounty as well as to the watermen who make seafood available to us as consumers," commented CBMM Membership Team Leader Debbie Collison. "We also want to educate people about the wide variety of fish and seafood from the Chesapeake, what it takes to harvest it and get the food to your home or restaurant table. We’ll also share how you can you get more use out of any given product."
     To register for the event or for more information, call Debbie Collison at 410-745-4991.

OysterFest Tomorrow at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels

     St. Michaels, Md. -- The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will host OysterFest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 in St. Michaels. The event features live music, oysters and other food, children’s activities, boat rides, oyster demonstrations and harvesting displays, retriever demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, and an oyster stew competition among regional chefs.
     The folk, blues and jazz sounds of B-Natural of Chestertown will entertain guests with live music throughout the day. Band member Pres Harding is the grandson of Bronza Parks—the legendary Dorchester County boatbuilder of the museum’s skipjack, Rosie Parks. The skipjack once sailed the Chesapeake dredging for oysters, and is now undergoing a three-year restoration at the museum.
     The Talbot County Watermen’s Association will have several boats dockside to help share the stories of how oyster dredging, hand tonging, patent tonging and diving for oysters have been longtime traditions of the Chesapeake Bay. The Talbot County Watermen’s Association will also be offering freshly caught Chesapeake Bay oysters on the half shell. Hatchery-raised raw oysters and fried oyster sandwiches will also be made available. For those who prefer to learn about oysters rather than eat them, pit beef, cold beer, caramel apples, apple cider and more will also be available.
     An oyster slurping contest among festival-goers and an oyster stew competition among regional chefs will earn bragging rights for the winners, with limited samples of oyster stew served up beginning at 11am. Local restaurants will also offer cooking demonstrations of their signature oyster dishes throughout the day.
     Dogs can even have fun at the event, with retriever demonstrations on the water. Children and adults can also get out on the water with scenic river cruises aboard CBMM’s replica buyboat, Mister Jim. The restoration of the museum’s skipjack Rosie Parks, built by the legendary Dorchester County boatbuilder Bronza Parks, will be in full public view during the festival, while her sister ship, Martha Lewis, will be dockside for visitors to tour.
     OysterFest boasts plenty of family educational and fun activities designed to help kids get to know the oyster and how important the bivalve is to the Chesapeake Bay. You can design your own oyster cans and labels, explore an oyster nursery, participate in a scavenger hunt or face painting, or check out Mr. Oyster and Johnny Oysterseed to see how oysters filter the bay’s water. University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory will have its touch tank at the event. CBMM’s Model Guild will also offer a hands-on, build-a-boat activity at a small boat pond, with model boats available for children at a $3 fee. Dip-net making and knot-tying demonstrations will also be part of the day’s activities.
     The event is sponsored by Maryland Public Television, with two of its documentaries—Bugeye: A Chesapeake Legacy and Chesapeake by Air, screened in the museum’s Van Lennep Auditorium during the event. Bugeye: A Chesapeake Legacy, follows self-proclaimed Renaissance man Sid Dickson as he handcrafts, with the help of John Hawkinson, a working replica of the Chesapeake Bay's waterborne workhorse, the bugeye. The bugeye featured in the story, the Katherine M. Edwards, will be on display at the museum during the event. Chesapeake Bay by Air will also be screened during OysterFest. The documentary captures the unparalleled wild beauty, history and natural serenity of the bay, all from above.
     Festival-goers can also explore the museum’s exhibit buildings, including Oystering on the Chesapeake and Waterman’s Wharf, where visitors can try their hand at tonging or nippering for oysters. The museum’s bugeye, Edna E. Lockwood, an 1889 log-bottomed oyster dredge boat and National Historic Landmark, will also be on display.
     Admission to OysterFest is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $6 for children between the ages of six and 17. Children five years and under and CBMM members are admitted free. Food and boat rides are an additional cost. For more information, visit www.cbmm.org/oysterfest or call 410-745-2916.
     OysterFest also concludes the month-long “Fall into St. Michaels” celebration hosted by the St. Michaels Business Association. For more information, visit www.stmichaelsmd.org or call 410-745-0411.

Maryland Attorney General Gansler Seeks More Protection for Menhaden

     Baltimore, Md. -- In an effort to combat further environmental and economic damage to the Chesapeake Bay from the historic decline of Atlantic menhaden, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today asked the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) -- the interstate body tasked with managing menhaden -- to take much needed steps to better protect menhaden from unsustainable fishing levels. Unchecked commercial fishing -- particularly the industrial practice of "reduction fishing," which grinds the fish up for its oil -- has contributed to an 88 percent decline in the Atlantic menhaden population since 1985. The ASMFC's fishery management plan for menhaden has so far failed to reverse this decline.
     "For far too long, the ASMFC has allowed menhaden to be fished to extremely low levels," said Attorney General Gansler. "We need strong action now to prevent further damage to this crucial link in the Bay food chain."
     Attorney General Gansler issued comments to the ASMFC as it considers updating its menhaden fishery management plan for the waters that include the Chesapeake Bay. The Atlantic menhaden has been called "the most important fish in the sea" and is crucial to the health of the Bay because of its role as a filter and forage fish. Menhaden remove plankton from Bay waters and serve as a staple food in the diets of species like osprey and striped bass, Maryland's state fish.
     The decline of the Bay's menhaden population has "coincided with the appearance of larger and more frequent algal blooms in the Bay, which cause substantial environmental harm," according to studies cited by Attorney General Gansler in his statement. "Research has shown that harvesting of low-trophic level species like menhaden can have major impacts across the ecosystem. Because menhaden, by nature, travel throughout much of the East Coast and are fished in many states, no one state can comprehensively reduce their decline from overfishing. For example, although Maryland banned commercial harvesting of menhaden with purse seine nets many decades ago, the practice continues to be permitted elsewhere."
     The Attorney General asked the ASMFC to ensure that the menhaden population can return to sustainable levels by raising the "fishing mortality threshold" from 8 percent to 15 percent and the "fishing mortality target" from 20 percent to 40 percent.
     From the comments submitted to the ASMFC:
     "The Commission's interstate fishery management plan (FMP) for the menhaden has so far failed to adequately protect the menhaden fishery, particularly from overfishing. Despite menhaden's historic decline, the Commission has allowed menhaden to be fished down to 8% of their maximum spawning potential, even though established science suggests that such a level is unsustainable, as will be discussed below. The Commission concedes that, even under this generous management plan (where removing over 90% of fish is not considered overfishing), 'overfishing is occurring' and that 'overfishing has occurred in 32 of the last 54 years.' . . . Nonetheless, the Commission has so far failed to adjust its management of menhaden to address this troubling situation."

Maryland Fishing Report by Keith Lockwood

     Oxford, Md. -- The tail end of October left many of us with a whopper of a northeaster that graced us with a record snow in many western and northern areas, lot’s of rain and fierce winds over the weekend. Over here on the eastern bank of the Chesapeake it also left us with the season’s first hard frost. Fishermen will start to dress a lot warmer now especially in the mornings and evenings; topsiders and sneakers will be replaced with rubber knee boots and camouflage duck hunting coats will round out the fishermen’s wardrobe. So here we are in the first days of November and fishing for some of our favorites such as striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass and trout could hardly be better. Dress warm and make sure to enjoy the colorful foliage and your favorite kind of fishing, for old man winter is beginning to knock at the door.

Upper Bay
     Fishermen in the upper bay region are reporting cold water temperatures this week; below 50-degrees in some areas. Most fishermen are casting to breaking fish that are often marked by birds, jigging underneath for a larger grade of fish, trolling or fishing bait from shore. Breaking fish in the upper bay are often 3-year old striped bass in the 14” to 17” size range but jigging underneath with soft plastic jigs or metal can produce large fish at times. Trolling close to the bottom near channel edges and lumps has been productive and “bottom bouncing” with bucktails has been working well also. Fishing from shore at prominent points and piers is a good way to get in on some of the action with striped bass since they are roaming freely in all water depths. Fishing with bloodworms or fresh cut bait is usually the ticket.
     The striped bass action at the Bay Bridge piers continues to be a tough egg to crack this week but fishermen are catching a few nice fish by jigging soft plastics, White perch have moved into deeper water for the most part near the mouths of the region’s tidal rivers and out in the bay on oyster lumps and increasing numbers of yellow perch are being caught in the upper bay tidal rivers above Baltimore.

Maryland DNR and Partners Stock Bass in Middle River

     Middle River, Md. -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Inland Fisheries Biologists along with volunteers from the Maryland Bass Federation Nation released 250 largemouth bass on October 21, into several high-quality locations in Middle River as part of DNR’s bass fishing enhancement program.
     “This partnership between DNR and avid largemouth bass anglers will hopefully teach us something about the behavior of the fish. We hope that these bass will stay in Middle River for a long time,” said DNR Tidal Bass Program Manager Joe Love. “We encourage anglers to release their largemouth bass catch to help with the efforts to restore a sustainable population in Middle River.”
     DNR staff inserted red identification tags into 200 of the fish as part of a study to find out if the bass remain in the river. Any angler who catches a tagged fish and provides the date and location along with the tag number to DNR will earn a collectable Largemouth Bass Program Volunteer hat. The DNR Bass Program return address is printed on the tag along with the four-digit code. Anglers may also call Joe Love with the information at 410-260-8257.
     This is the third consecutive year that DNR has released adult, 4- to 12-inch largemouth bass in Middle River. This year, approximately twenty percent of the fish came from the State’s Joseph Manning Hatchery in the Cedarville State Forest near Brandywine. The rest of the fish came from a Maryland-certified commercial hatchery in Arkansas using funds provided by the Maryland Bass Federation Nation, M.R. Bass, and local businesses, including Domino Foods, Inc. of Baltimore.
     For more information on the program, visit dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/bass/.

Annapolis Yacht Club Frostbite Series begins Sunday

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the Annapolis Yacht Club’s 2011-2012 Frostbite Series sail races are scheduled to occur on the Severn River each Sunday afternoon from November 6 through December 11, on January 1, 2012, and each Sunday afternoon from February 5, 2012 through March 18, 2012, between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
     Each race consists of up to 25 participants, with seven fleets starting at various times, and a maximum of 100 participating sailboats and auxiliary sailboats (18 to 49 feet),. The races will occur in the Severn River, between the Severn River (US-50) Bridge and the mouth of the Severn River, with a start line in the vicinity of U.S. Naval Academy seawall. Interested mariners may contact the Special Events Committee boat on marine band radio channel 69 VHF-FM, if necessary. Chart 12282.