2008 Fisheries & Wildlife: A

The O’Malley Administration’s handling of fish and wildlife issues reflects not only a deeply felt concern for preservation but also a conviction to do the right thing. The governor has actively worked to meet the preservation needs of many critical Maryland species while recognizing the economic needs of the citizens who depend on them.

Oyster Restoration: GOOD

In April 2007, Governor O’Malley signed a bill designed to slow the depletion of Maryland oyster populations and restore them to their natural levels. Now the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) can lease parcels of the floor of the Bay for restoration projects, increase penalties for poaching, and create a task force to explore other innovative solutions. The governor also included $9 million for the Horn Point Laboratory to build an oyster settling facility.

Diamondback Terrapins: GOOD

In 2007, Governor O’Malley signed a law banning the commercial harvesting of the Diamondback Terrapin and limiting recreational harvesting of these turtles to no more than three per person.

Blue Crab Restoration: GOOD

A variety of factors have contributed to the decline of Maryland’s blue crab population, including poor water quality, loss of aquatic vegetation and oyster reefs, over-fishing, and climate change. During the 2008 legislative session, Governor O’Malley fought to include $3 million in DNR’s budget for habitat restoration programs, seafood processing industry grants, and aquaculture development. In April 2008, DNR promulgated rules intended to restore the blue crab population by reducing the fall 2008 female blue crab harvest by 34 percent. Recognizing the importance of the blue crab to Maryland’s ecosystem, economy, and identity, Governor O’Malley joined Virginia Governor Tim Kaine in pushing for solutions to address the watermen’s livelihood as well as the health of the crab population. In May 2008, Governor O’Malley joined U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin in asking Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez to declare the declining Chesapeake Bay blue crab fishery eligible for federal disaster relief. If Secretary Gutierrez agrees, the federal government could make $15 million available to assist watermen while DNR works to increase the crab population enough that it will be safe to resume previous harvesting levels.

Living Shorelines: GOOD

In 2008 the O’Malley Administration helped pass a bill requiring the use of more environmentally sound building methods for stabilizing Maryland’s shorelines. Instead of the traditional hard shoreline building methods, which use riprap and bulkheads that damage surrounding habitat, “living shorelines” use techniques that are less invasive to the Bay ecosystem and make use of native plants, sand fill, stone, and other organic materials.