Governor O’Malley Appoints 15 Members to New Fisheries Management Task Force

---

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Today, Governor Martin O’Malley announced the formation of Maryland’s new Task Force on Fisheries Management established by the General Assembly in the 2007 legislative session. The 15-member task force, charged with advising the State on fisheries management, will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, November 20 from 3 pm. to 7 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel in Annapolis.

“Maryland’s diverse fishery resources make invaluable contributions to our economy, our culture and our quality of life,” said Governor O’Malley. “The members of this task force will work with fishery managers to ensure sustainable management of those critical resources for our children and theirs. I look forward to receiving their recommendations.”

The Fisheries Management Reform Act (Senate Bill 1012) enacted in April, directs the Task Force to develop new strategies to better manage Maryland’s valuable fishery resources. Specifically, members of the Task Force will oversee a full review of current fishery management processes and develop recommendations for methods to improve, modernize, and streamline fishery management. The Task Force will look in depth at a range of fisheries conservation challenges, management issues, and a variety of science concerns, including stock assessment capabilities and limitations, ecosystem based interactions, and socioeconomic considerations associated with Maryland’s fisheries.

“We view this as an important opportunity to improve the effectiveness of our fisheries management efforts,” said John R. Griffin, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The Task Force will make recommendations to improve fisheries management in Maryland for the 2009 and 2010 General Assembly Legislative Sessions.

“I look forward to taking a fresh look at our fishery management programs as a whole, outside the context of a species-specific crisis,” said Tom Lewis, Fisheries Management Task Force Chairman. “The members selected to serve on this Task Force will undoubtedly provide an informed and spirited effort to do just that. I really look forward to working with them."

Fisheries Management Task Force Membership:

Chair: Thomas B. Lewis, Esq., Gallagher Evelius & Jones LLP
Ralph Sherman Baynard, Coastal Conservation Association
Frank Dawson, Department of Natural Resources
Russell Dize, Maryland Watermen’s Association
James Gracie, Maryland Aquatic Resource Coalition
Brian Keehn, Maryland Charter Boat Association
Scott McGuire, Coastal Conservation Association
Richard Novotny, Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association
Edward O’Brien, Maryland Charter Boat Association
J. Jeffery Popp, Chesapeake Guides Association
Lawrence Simns, Maryland Watermen’s Association
Roger Trageser, Maryland B.A.S.S. Federation
Fred Tutman, Patuxent Riverkeeper
William Windley, Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association

Peer Review Committee:
Chair: Dr. Edward D. Houde, PhD., Chesapeake Biological Laboratory

---

November 6, 2007

Contact: Olivia Campbell 410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell ocampbell@dnr.state.md.us

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 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 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 12 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