is the legal basis of the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission, which today has a member-
ship of fifteen Atlantic seaboard states. Each state
is represented by three commissioners. One com-
missioner represents the state agency charged with
conservation of fisheries resources, one is a legisla-
tor, and one is selected by the Governor for a
three-year term.

The Commission advises in the development of
joint programs dealing with particular species of
fish or bodies of water common to two or more
states. These programs may result in uniform laws
or varying but coordinated measures as the cir-
cumstances require. Each participating state con-
tributes to the support of the Commission in
proportion to the value of its marine fisheries catch
as compared with the total Atlantic catch.

The Commission issues mimeographed minutes
of meetings and printed annual reports. All are on
file in the office of the Department of Natural
Resources. The Commission also publishes and
distributes the Marine Resources Leaflet series
(Code Natural Resources Article, secs. 4-301
through 4-305).

CHESAPEAKE BAY COMMISSION

Chairperson: Thomas A. Rymer

Members from the Senate: Bemie Fowler; Gerald
W. Winegrad.

Members from the House of Delegates: James E.
McClellan; Michael H. Weir.

Torrey C. Brown, Secretary of Natural Resources
Citizen member: Jack. F. Witten
Margaret Johnston, Executive Director

60 West St.
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 263-3420

The Chesapeake Bay Commission, based on a bi-
state agreement between Maryland and Virginia,
was created by Chapter 674, Acts of 1980. It
resulted from recommendations included in the
final report of the Chesapeake Bay Legislative
Commission, which indicated the need for im-
proved coordination of Bay-wide management to
meet the long-term needs of the people of both
Maryland and Virginia.

The Commission helps the legislatures of Mary-
land and Virginia evaluate and respond to prob-
lems of mutual concern relating to the Chesapeake
Bay. It encourages cooperative coordinated re-

Interstate Agencies/413

source planning and action by the signatories and
their agencies. Through recommendations to the
respective legislatures, the Commission also pro-
vides, where appropriate, uniformity of legislative
application.

The Commission consists of fourteen members,
seven each from Maryland and Virginia. Five
members from each state are members of the state
legislature. Of the five Maryland legislator mem-
bers, two are senators designated by the president
of the Senate and three are delegates designated by
the speaker of the House. The Governor or his
designee serves as a member. Another member,
who is neither a legislator nor a member of the
Executive branch, is jointly selected by the presi-
dent of the Senate and the speaker of the House.
Legislative members serve terms coterminous with
their current terms of office. Non-legislative mem-
bers serve at the pleasure of their respective
appointing authorities, but such terms cannot
exceed four years unless they are reappointed. The
chairperson and vice-chairperson are selected an-
nually by the members, with each position alter-
nating annually between the delegations from the
two states.

COASTAL STATES ORGANIZATION

Maryland Representative: Sarah J. Taylor,
Tidewater Administration, Department of
Natural Resources

444 N. Capitol St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
Telephone: (202) 628-9636

Tawes State Office Bldg.
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-2784

The Coastal States Organization was formed in
1970 with twenty-two member states, including
Maryland. Presently the Organization consists of
delegates appointed by the governors of thirty-five
coastal states, commonwealths, and territories.

The Coastal States Organization was established
to serve as the governors' official representative in
U.S. ocean and coastal affairs and is the states'
leading advocate for sound marine practice and
policy nationwide. CSO represents the states'
shared interests and concerns in interstate and
federal marine resource programs and policies. It
helps coastal states maintain an effective leadership
role in the development and implementation of
national coastal policy, and works to advance
multi-state participation in resolution of national
coastal issues without interfering in the states'
own, and sometimes differing, objectives. CSO