Gilchrist Introduces Bill Calling for Equity in Funding Fisheries Management

     Annapolis, Md. -- Delegate James W. Gilchrist (D-17th) has introduced HB 1173, supported by the Coastal Conservation Association Maryland (CCA MD), which would mandate that commercial fishermen pay at least 90 percent of the management costs of their fishery or face repercussions.

     “For too long recreational anglers have supported the management of their fishery while the majority of the cost of managing commercial fisheries has been borne by Maryland taxpayers,” explained Tony Friedrich, CCA MD executive director. “It’s time to stop asking the general public to accept this financial burden.

     “During the past several weeks CCA Maryland has worked with Delegate Gilchrist discussing this inequity and possible solutions to protect Maryland tax dollars and recreational user fees. We believe the bill introduced will go a long way in correcting the inequity. We commend him and Delegate Marvin Holmes and encourage his colleagues to support this bill to be fair to all Maryland citizens.”

     All fishing in Maryland—both commercial and recreational—is supported by a combination of license and permit fees, federal angler taxes and direct grants, and state revenue. Preliminary estimates by the Maryland Department of Natural Resource (DNR) has found that 93 percent of management costs for recreational fishing comes from license fees and federal angling taxes; while only 20 percent of management of commercial fisheries comes from license and permit fees, with an additional 23 percent covered by direct federal grants.

     If enacted, the bill would mandate that DNR modify commercial fishing seasons or close commercial fisheries for striped bass, clam, oysters, or crab if projected revenues would not cover at least 90 percent of management cost for that fishery.

     “Last winter management costs for striped bass skyrocketed when DNR discovered more than 13 tons of striped bass captured in illegally-placed nets,” Friedrich said. “DNR initially closed the gill net season, and had to increase staffing on the water and at reporting stations to assure additional infractions would not occur when it was re-opened. In developing better ways to monitor and enforce the commercial striped bass fishery, DNR identified the massive shortfall and inequity in the amount of money contributed by commercial fisherman in all fisheries as compared to recreational anglers.

    “Unfortunately, many in the commercial industry continue to disregard our natural resources law as evidenced by recent illegal activity involving the oyster fishery. Nineteen separate commercial fishermen have been cited in the last two months for oyster violations, including poaching in sanctuaries, again adding costs to the management of the commercial industry. It’s time for this illegal activity to stop.”

     The Coastal Conservation Association Maryland (CCA MD) is one of 17 state chapters of the Coastal Conservation Association, which has 100,000 members nationally.