PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

S.B. 510

harvesting on these lower Bay areas may interfere with the oyster recovery efforts
underway and creates an additional source of mortality in areas where oyster populations
have already been reduced by disease. According to the Department, there are very few
market size oysters (3 inches or greater) in the areas delineated in Senate Bill 510. These
are oysters that have survived the exposure to MSX and Dermo, and, therefore, may be
considered to have acquired a degree of resistance.

It may be that modifications to this proposal can be made to make it consistent with
Maryland's effort to maintain a viable oyster population. I would advise the sponsors and
interested parties to work with the Oyster Roundtable. A dialogue of all interested
parties may result in a proposal that addresses the concerns of the Department of Natural
Resources and other interested groups, but that still accommodates the watermen who
support this bill.

For these reasons, I have vetoed Senate Bill 510.

Sincerely,

Parris N. Glendening

Governor

Senate Bill No. 510

AN ACT concerning

Somerset County - Power Dredging of Oysters

FOR the purpose of allowing a person to power dredge oysters in waters contiguous to
Somerset County if the person holds a certain license issued by the Department of
Natural Resources; authorizing the Department to issue certain licenses and adopt
certain regulations relating to power dredging of oysters; limiting the season when a
licensee can power dredge oysters under this Act; placing certain restrictions on the
power dredging of oysters; requiring the Department to prepare and submit a
certain report by a certain date; providing for the termination of this Act; and
generally relating to power dredging of oysters in waters contiguous to Somerset
County.

BY adding to

Article - Natural Resources

Section 4-1014

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1989 Replacement Volume and 1994 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

4-1014.

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