and conservation laws. The Force also investigates
boating accidents and reports them to the U.S.
Coast Guard.

Through enforcement of hunting and wildlife
conservation laws, the Force provides the primary
law enforcement service for a number of remote
areas in the State, as well as emergency services
when required. The Force is also the primary
search and rescue agency on the waters of the
State.

The Force operates the Natural Resources Police
Academy at Matapeake, a central maintenance and
supply facility, and an aviation unit to provide
airborne surveillance and rescue services to the
enforcement programs and other agencies of the
Department.

TIDEWATER ADMINISTRATION

Lee E. Zeni, Administrator

Tawes State Office Building
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-2926

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.

The Waterway Improvement Program was creat-
ed by the State Boat Act (Chapter 348, Acts of
1972). The Program serves the general boating
public. It places and maintains navigational aids,
clears debris and obstructions from waters of the
State, removes derelict vessels, engages in ice
breaking and dredging, and constructs regional
boating facilities and local small-boat launching
ramps, piers, and ancillary facilities.

The Fisheries Division carries out duties of the
former Fisheries Administration, created by Chap-
ter 348, Acts of 1972. The Division is responsible
for the preservation, enhancement, development,
and use of all fishery resources in Maryland. Its
fishery management program includes planting
oyster shells for propagation purposes, transplant-
ing seed oysters on public oyster bars, and moni-
toring blue crab movement to determine fluctua-
tions in annual harvest. The program involves
investigation of fish mortalities, an annual survey
of young fish to determine reproductive success,
monitoring anadromous fish reproduction and har-
vesting, support of striped bass hatcheries for
research and release, pond and reservoir fishery
development, as well as environmental review of
permit applications, disease and parasite investiga-
tions, resurveying the Bay bottom, and obtaining

Natural Resources/27 9

statistics needed for management decisions. The
Division strives to provide the greatest amount of
public trout fishing within existing habitat while
trying to preserve, enhance, and improve the
natural trout resources within the State.

In 1984, the General Assembly authorized the
Department to begin an "Adopt a Rockfish"
Program (Chapter 687, Acts of 1984). Under this
program, any person may "adopt" a rockfish by
paying $5.00 to the Department. This "adoption"
entitles the person to a certificate of appreciation
for helping to save the rockfish, the State fish.
Revenues received are used to manage striped bass
and inform the public of the importance of ecologi-
cal management techniques.

The Coastal Zone Management Program was
transferred from the former Energy and Coastal
Zone Administration to the Tidewater Administra-
tion. In 1973, the Governor designated the Depart-
ment of Natural Resources as the agency autho-
rized to receive and administer federal grants
pursuant to the Federal Coastal Zone Management
Act of 1972. In 1978 the Governor signed an
Executive Order stating that the Coastal Zone
Management Program constitutes State policy
with regard to activities in Maryland's coastal
areas. The Program is based upon the laws,
regulations, authorities, expertise, and perspectives
of six State Departments (Agriculture, Economic
and Community Development, Health and Mental
Hygiene, Natural Resources, State Planning,
Transportation), sixteen coastal counties and
Baltimore City, two regional planning agencies,
and numerous federal agencies. The Coastal Re-
sources Division administers the Program with
grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospher-
ic Administration. Its primary function is to
coordinate the many Program participants, ensur-
ing that all State and federal actions are consistent
with the State's coastal resources policy, providing
technical and financial assistance to local govern-
ments and State agencies, improving the quality
and extent of coastal decision-making information,
and providing for a balance in the management of
the State's coastal resources.

The Tidewater Administration is served by the
following advisory committees:

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)