272/Maryland Manual

The Tidewater Administration was created by
Chapter 601, Acts of 1979. The agency combined
Tidal Fisheries, Coastal Zone Management, and
Waterway Improvement into one organizational
unit.

Waterway Improvement Program was created
under Chapter 348 of the Acts of 1972, the State
Boat Act. It provides services to the general
boating public, including placement and mainte-
nance of navigational aids, clearing of debris and
obstructions from waters of the State, removal of
derelict vessels, ice breaking, dredging, and the
construction of regional boating facilities and lo-
cal small-boat launching ramps, piers, and ancil-
lary facilities.

The Tidal Fisheries Division carries out the op-
erational functions of the former Fisheries
Administration, created by Chapter 348, Acts of
1972. The Tidal Fisheries Division is responsible
for the preservation, enhancement, development,
and use of all tidal fishery resources in Maryland.
Recent economic estimates indicate that the Mary-
land sport fishery in tidewater expends approxi-
mately 20 million dollars annually in direct costs,
exclusive of boats, motors, and tackle. Commer-
cial fisheries of shellfish and fin-fish in 1981 had a
dockside value of approximately $56 million. The
fishery management program includes planting
multi-million bushels of oyster shells for propaga-
tion purposes, transplanting seed oysters on public
oyster bars, and monitoring blue crab movement
to determine fluctuations in annual harvest. The
program involves investigation of fish mortalities,
an annual juvenile recruitment survey to index re-
productive success, monitoring anadromous fish
reproduction and harvesting, support of striped
bass hatcheries for research and release, as well as
environmental review of permit applications, dis-
ease and parasite investigations, resurveying the
Bay bottom, and obtaining statistics needed for
management decisions.

The Coastal Zone Management Program was
transferred from the former Energy and Coastal
Zone Administration to the Tidewater Adminis-
tration. The Governor in March 1973 designated
the Department of Natural Resources as the
agency authorized to receive and administer fed-
eral grants pursuant to the Federal Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972. In May 1978 the Gov-
ernor signed an Executive Order stating that the
Coastal Zone Management Program constitutes
State policy with regard to activities in Mary-
land's coastal areas. The Program is based upon
the authorities, expertise, and perspectives of six
State Departments (Economic and Community
Development, State Planning, Natural Resources,
Transportation, Health and Mental Hygiene, and

Agriculture), sixteen coastal counties and Balti-
more City, and numerous federal agencies. The
Coastal Resources Division administers the Pro-
gram with a $1.2 million grant from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Its pri-
mary function is to coordinate the many Program
participants, ensuring that all State and federal
actions are consistent with the State's coastal re-
sources policy, providing technical and financial
assistance to local governments and State agen-
cies, and improving the quality and extent of
coastal decision-making information.

The Tidewater Administration is served by the
following advisory committees:

ANADROMOUS FISH ADVISORY
COMMITTEE

William P. Jensen, Chairperson

(Code Natural Resources Article, secs.
l-102(d), 1-105.)

BOAT ACT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Edwin J. Wolf, Chairperson

(Code Natural Resources Article, secs. 8-701
through 8-727.)

CLAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE

(Code Natural Resources Article, sec. 4-1032.)

COASTAL RESOURCES ADVISORY
COMMITTEE

Matthew E. Creamer, Chairperson

(Code Natural Resources Article, sec.
l-102(d).)

ESTUARINE SANCTUARY
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Scott Brumbaugh, Chairperson

(Code Natural Resources Article, sec.
l-102(d).)

STATEWIDE OYSTER DREDGERS
COMMITTEE

(Code Natural Resources Article, sec. 4-1106.)

STATEWIDE OYSTER TONGERS
COMMITTEE

(Code Natural Resources Article, sec. 4-1106.)