ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 500

CHAPTER 500
(House Bill 202)

AN ACT concerning

Department of Natural Resources - Finfishing - Closure of State Waters

FOR the purpose of prohibiting authorizing the Department of Natural Resources
from completely closing to close an area of State waters to all finfishing unless
if the Department satisfies certain requirements; requiring the Department to
publicize in certain ways certain information regarding certain public hearings
and to make a certain report available at a certain time; requiring the
Department to prepare a certain report at certain times; requiring the
Department to reopen a certain area under a certain circumstance; providing for
the application of this Act; and generally relating to certain closures of State
waters to finfishing.

BY adding to

Article - Natural Resources

Section 4-215.1

Annotated Code of Maryland

(2000 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, The waters of Maryland are among the State's most renowned
resources; and

WHEREAS, Effective assessment, management, and planning in the
conservation of Maryland waters are vital tools in the protection of the aquatic
environment; and

WHEREAS, There are more than 700,000 Maryland recreational anglers, and
recreational fishing is the most popular outdoor sporting activity in the State; and

WHEREAS, Recreational fishing provides more than 11,000 jobs in the State in
the retail, wholesale, and manufacturing sectors, and its average annual total
economic output is estimated to surpass $1.06 billion; and

WHEREAS, Commercial fishing contributes an additional estimated economic
output of $100.4 million per year, and 7,600 licensed harvesters, 225 dealers, and
more than 2,000 processing jobs rely on the productivity of State waters for their
livelihoods; and

WHEREAS, These commercial fisheries supply hundreds of local and national
restaurants and retail seafood outlets with the high quality seafood for which
Maryland is world famous; and

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