DNR Urges Maryland Anglers To Get Involved In Fisheries Management

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ANNAPOLIS – As the weather warms and thoughts naturally turn to getting out on the Bay and its waterways, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service reminds recreational anglers of several ways they can become involved in fisheries management this spring. Data collected from cooperative anglers plays a crucial role in estimating harvests and characterizing fish populations and ultimately, developing creel limits.

Striped bass (rockfish) anglers should be aware of three ways that DNR will seek their cooperation this spring. New this year, the Department will conduct a telephone survey to estimate the number of anglers participating in the spring striped bass season. Calls will be made to randomly selected Bay Sport License holders who will then be asked to complete a brief survey over the phone. At the same time, biologists from the Department will be visiting popular public-access boat ramps and marinas to interview anglers and request permission to examine their catch. Anglers can also participate in the Striped Bass Volunteer Angler Survey at any time by visiting http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/survey/sbsurveyintro.shtml and entering information about their catch. Data collected by these three methods are crucial in the estimation of total harvest, discards and other important information such as sex ratios and age structure of the population.

The Maryland Volunteer Angler Summer Flounder Survey (MVASFS) is designed to obtain recreational harvest and release data that are not otherwise available to DNR. Simply by submitting fishing trip information when targeting summer flounder, anglers can become active participants in summer flounder management. These data are used to perform minimum size analysis as a comparison to the federal harvest data and much more! To learn more or to become involved with the Maryland Volunteer Angler Summer Flounder Survey, visit our website at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/survey/sfsurveyintro.shtml, or contact Allison Luettel by phone at 1-877-620-8DNR or via email at aluettel@dnr.state.md.us.
 

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April 12, 2007

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov