Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CCMP)
Fish and Wildlife
The Fish and Wildlife section of the CCMP includes 5 goals:
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Increase
fish and shellfish species.
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Enhance
forest habitats to protect songbirds, other wildlife populations, and
aquatic resources.
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Protect
and enhance wetlands to benefit water quality, waterfowl, and other
wildlife.
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Protect
threatened and endangered species.
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Limit
impacts to native plants and animals from non-native and nuisance species.
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DNR Implementation Summary
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has the most significant role in the
Fish and Wildlife section of the CCMP than in any other section, and more than
any other partner in the Program. Among
the agencies top priorities are the development of fishery management plans,
long-range forestry plans, and marine sensitive areas initiatives.
Studies on exotic and nuisance species and impacts to seagrass beds from
human activities are also in the forefront of DNR's activities.
Many actions have been undertaken by DNR since the inception of the plan.
The following are some of the highlights:
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In April 2002, a cooperative angler flounder
survey commenced through the MSSA and local anglers with the major
goal of collecting and assessing the data gathered to promote better
fishing techniques and legislation beneficial to both the fish and the
fishermen.
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In order to accomplish the tasks in the CCMP, DNR
established a Coastal Bays Fishery
Advisory Committee specifically for providing advice to the DNR on
recreation and commercial fisheries in the coastal bays.
This committee has already completed fishery management plans
for hard clams and blue crabs, and has also obtained a $25,000 NOAA
Coastal Services Center Grant in developing the concept of water
zoning and sanctuaries to manage resources.
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Investigations and studies were done in order to
assess the impacts of hydraulic clam dredging on the biotic
environment along the coastal bays. Legislation was then passed in 1998, revised in
2002. In partnership with the National Park Service, all bay grass beds
are delineated and marked with buoys, officially closing them to
commercial hydraulic clam dredging activities.
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The DNR has strongly promoted reforestation of
streambeds by providing support and information gathered by research
and surveys to landowners. It
has also worked with the USDA Forest Service in investigating better
methods to track forestry resources.
By utilizing natural resource conservation programs, such as
Rural Legacy and Stream ReLeaf, the DNR has been able to improve
forest character, develop educational outreach programs, and identify
and promote programs that protect these areas.
Some of these projects have been combined, such as the Forest
and Stewardship Incentive Programs, which have been welded together to
form the Forest Land Enhancement Program.
Land enhancement is a major issue when discussing how wildlife
and plant species may benefit from such changes.
The DNR has identified and begun working on grassland buffering
which will help reduce agricultural runoff and benefit grassland
nesting birds by providing additional food and cover for numerous
wetland bird species.
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Plans have been developed and implemented by the
DNR to protect, enhance, and restore habitats.
Specifically, Phragmites has been identified as the most
invasive plant species and the most threatening to the diversity of
plant and animal communities in the Maryland Coastal Bays ecosystem.
The DNR offered a control program with the use of a chemical
compound that was designed to control the spread of Phragmites and to
encourage a more diverse wetland community for wildlife.
******************************************************************************************************** DNR Implementation Summaries
If you have any questions about Maryland's Coastal Bays
Implementation Activities,
please feel free to e-mail, Katheleen
Freeman, or call (410) 260-8986. |