HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                       2163

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1986.

Approved May 13, 1986.

CHAPTER 617

(House Bill 1044)

AN ACT concerning

Rockfish - Survey

FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Natural Resources
to conduct certain surveys on the prevalence relative
abundance of certain striped bass or rockfish in the
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries; providing for the
conduct and completion date of certain surveys; and
requiring the Department to make certain reports.

BY adding to

Article - Natural Resources

Section 4-746

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1983 Replacement Volume and 1985 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, The purpose of the moratorium on the taking,
possession, sale, and transportation of striped bass or rockfish
was to allow the young of the 1982 year class to grow to maturity
and spawn, thus preserving the striped bass or rockfish in the
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries; and

WHEREAS, In order for the General Assembly to determine for
itself whether there are sufficient numbers to preserve the
fishery, this Act is intended to gather sufficient information on
any year class of striped bass or rockfish that is approximately
18 inches in length; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF

MARYLAND, That the Department of Natural Resources shall conduct
annually a scientifically based survey with appropriate nets,
seines, or other similar devices to determine the number of
striped bass or rockfish of approximately 18 inches in length

that are in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The survey

conducted in accordance with this Act shall be similar to the
survey used by the Department to determine its Young of the Year
index of striped bass or rockfish. The Department shall complete