Article by Marty Gary
Greetings fishermen, and those of you that just like reading about fishing. This is the first of what I hope will be many weekly updates from the Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s Fisheries Service. Coastal Fisherman Editor Larry Jock has been kind enough to allow the opportunity to bring information from the fisheries management perspective. Each week we’ll provide you with the most recent updates on fisheries management news and upcoming events. I’ll let you know what research and survey work is underway and the great work they are doing down on the coast. I also look forward to hearing from the readers of the the Coastal Fisherman and answering questions you may have. The Coastal Fisherman is one of the most read publications in the Ocean City area, and will be a great opportunity for DNR to reach out to the fishing public, and we hope it will also function as a way for you to express your thoughts to us.
First, some background information on myself. I was born and raised in Baltimore, and thanks to a father who introduced me to fishing at an early age, I developed a passion for all things fish related. My family maintained a summer house in north Ocean City since I was 10 years of age, and I spent much of my summer vacations as a youth in Ocean City, fishing every chance I could. Scuba diving, kayaking and other water related activities only fueled my desire to work in fisheries, and I went on to earn a degree in Fisheries Ecology from Texas A&M University. On my way to Alaska in the mid 1980s I interviewed with Maryland DNR, and a short term contractual position ultimately developed into a long career. Over the years, I’ve worked with stream restoration, fish passage, artificial reef development, striped bass stock assessment, commercial fisheries monitoring, and recreational fisheries management. Presently, I am an Assistant Director with DNR’s Fisheries Service for Fisheries Communication & Marketing. My wife Anne and I have a house in West Ocean City, and I spend much of my free time here, especially in the summer. I tell you this so you know I’ve been exposed to much over my 25 years at DNR, and to let you know that behind the public meetings, press releases and surveys are real people. We love fishing and being out on the water just like you do and we are committed to upholding the four core components of our mission:
•Protect, Conserve and Enhance Fisheries Resources
•Provide and Enhance Fishing Opportunities
•Provide Sustainable Economic Opportunities
•Promote and Protect Fisheries through Public Outreach & Education
To that end, I hope to make you aware not only of the work that we do, but the people behind the work. And let’s not forget the importance of the fishing community itself. There are a whole host of knowledgeable and talented people that spend countless hours attending meetings, workshops, public hearings and other events that contribute to the fisheries management process. In the end, a fishing season is proposed and adopted with a specific set of criteria including season dates, minimum sizes, creel limits and quotas. What is mostly unseen is the work behind the scenes by people that have already put in their time at their principle job of running a tackle shop, operating a charter boat, or as the representative of their organization. I’ll talk about these folks as well in future updates. Fisheries management processes are going forward through the combined effort of these knowledgeable advisors working directly with our staff to develop scientifically sound management options.
Two recent successes have been summer flounder, where we have been able to implement a lower minimum size for 2011, and black sea bass where a potentially greatly abbreviated season was avoided for this year, while other states had to cut back their seasons dramatically.
Maryland coastal fishery resources are diverse, dynamic and provide tremendous economic benefits. There are many challenges that come with the management of those resources. Cooperative management through partnerships the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Mid Atlantic Fisheries Management Council, National Marine Fisheries Service and others can make for what might seem a complex process to a fishermen reading this publication. It is my hope to make those processes more understandable and to keep you up-to-date on the very latest developments as they occur, and how readers of the Coastal Fisherman can participate in the process.
In upcoming issues, I’ll be speaking to you about Maryland’s new coastal license and how we are handling the National Saltwater Angler Registry.
For the past six years, Maryland DNR has been working with over 20 partner organizations to sponsor a statewide, comprehensive fishing contest, the Maryland Fishing Challenge. There is no charge to participate, and features a special youth component and over 80 different species categories where anglers can submit a fish of citation award size for the chance to win some great prizes. Thanks to generous sponsors we’ve been able to award over $400,000 in cash and prizes since the contest began in 2005. I’ll be discussing the contest in greater detail in the coming weeks, but it is a great opportunity for both the visitors and residents alike of the Town of Ocean City to participate in our free contest while enjoying their time on the water fishing.
Finally, I would encourage you to contact me if you have any questions on fishing or fisheries management on Maryland’s coast. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find the answer or put you in touch with the right person. You can reach me via email at [email protected] or you can call my office phone in Annapolis 410-260-8289.
As I previously mentioned, I would like to address at least one of your questions each week in this column. Please submit that question to me by email. Once again, thanks to Larry for allowing Maryland DNR to have this opportunity to provide information to the readers of the Coastal Fisherman.
Until next week…….good fishing!
Marty Gary is Assistant Director/Fisheries Ecologist at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service.
