CCA MD fisheries symposium set for Dec. 5

The second annual Coastal Conservation Association Maryland (CCA MD) Mid Atlantic Fisheries Symposium, again sponsored by Costa del Mar, will focus on striped bass, forage fish and oysters. It is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Loews Annapolis Hotel and is free and open to the public.

The one-day event will bring together top scientists on the Chesapeake Bay along with representatives of stakeholder groups and recreational anglers to discuss the current state of marine resources in the Chesapeake and what the future holds. It will run from 9 a.m to 3 p.m.

Dr. Elizabeth North, assistant professor, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), will open the symposium, discussing “A tale of two shellfisheries: oysters, scallops, and a path toward a brighter future for oysters in Chesapeake Bay.” The second session will feature Dr. Edward Houde, vice president for education and professor, UMCES, talking on“Little fish, big impact - forage fish, menhaden and ecosystem-based fisheries management.”

The afternoon will feature a discussion of “Striped Bass management update, and discussion of the regulations in the coming years for Maryland’s fishermen”led by Michael Luisi, assistant director, Estuarine and Marine Fisheries Division, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

All sessions will conclude with a panel discussion with stakeholders and audience members.

The symposium is being moderated by David Sikorski, chairman, CCA MD government relations committee.

Registration is free but must be made on the CCA MD website, http://www.ccamd.org/?ai1ec_event=fisheries-symposium-2015&instance_id=2427. Attendance is limited to 125 participants.