Article by Larry Jock
New Law Requires Children Under 13 to Wear a Personal Flotation Device
Governor Martin O’Malley signed a bill into law to strengthen protection of children on Maryland waterways. Under the new law, effective April 27, 2010, any child under the age of 13 is required to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) while aboard a vessel that is underway. The law will also require children under the age of 16 to possess a certificate of boating safety education before they can operate a vessel unless they are supervised by an adult or someone 18 or older who has a boating safety certificate, effective Oct. 1.
Formerly, any child under the age of seven had to wear a PFD on a recreational boat 21 feet or smaller, unless the boat is moored or anchored or the child is below deck in an enclosed cabin.
The State averages 12 boating related fatalities a year. In 2009, Maryland had 17 boating related fatalities;16 of the victims were not wearing PFDs.
Raising the age requirement puts Maryland in line with federal regulations and 34 states, including Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Washington, DC. The federal regulations do not supersede the state, but the National Transportation Safety Board strongly encourages states to update their PFD requirements.
“USS Radford” Set for Summer Sinking on Artificial Reef
DNREC Secretary Collin P. O’Mara signed a transfer agreement accepting title to the retired destroyer USS “Arthur W. Radford”, which will become the longest vessel ever reefed in the Atlantic Ocean when sunk later this year.
The 563-foot-long “Radford” is tentatively scheduled to go down in August onto the Del-Jersey-Land Inshore Reef site, located 26 miles southeast of the Indian River Inlet. The reef’s name comes from the three states, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland, partnering with the U.S. Navy to enhance fisheries habitat and recreational diving opportunities by putting the “Radford” on the ocean floor. The Navy also is sharing cost of reefing preparations, including transport of the ex-warship to its resting place in Delaware waters.
“Delaware is proud to be at the helm of a conservation project from which sportsmen and the environment alike can expect to derive great benefits,” said Sec. O’Mara. “We believe our artificial reef program’s renown will become an even bigger draw through the “Radford’s” sinking, and of course, drawing fish for anglers and divers is why we’re reefing the ship as marine habitat in the first place.”
The “Radford” will be towed a short distance within the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where it’s now berthed, to Pier 5, Dry Dock 2, to be cleaned and prepared for sinking. Cleanup will follow EPA best management practices for reefing vessels and will be undertaken by American Marine Group, a Virginia-based contractor that has reefed many vessels along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
The ex-destroyer, named for Navy admiral Arthur W. Radford who served as the commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Command and chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was commissioned in 1977 and decommissioned in 2003. Following final inspection and clearance in August, the “Radford” will be towed down the Delaware River and to sea over the reef site, where it will be positioned for several days while the hull is strategically sliced open to allow for a methodical sinking by flooding its compartments.
The collaborative Del-Jersey-Land Inshore Reef, which consists primarily of sunken retired ships and fishing boats, comprises an area of about one square mile with a depth of 120-130 feet.
“Having title really throttles up our anticipation for the sinking, because as we’ve said from the beginning, the “Radford” is an exceptionally good reefing candidate,” said Jeffrey Tinsman, manager of the Delaware Reef Program of DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. “We are excited about adding this great vessel to a mid-Atlantic reef site that’s accessible from ports in three states.”
For more information, call Jeff Tinsman, Delaware Reef Program administrator, at (302) 739-4782.
ASMFC Votes to Increase Sea Bass Season
In a vote supported by all member states of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board, member states will now have the option to liberalize the 2010 black sea bass season in state waters by an additional 90 days. The proposed new season will run from May 22 through October 11, with an additional open period of November 1 through December 31. The proposal would keep the size and bag limit the same of 12-1/2 inches and 25 fish per angler.
The increase in fishing days became possible after the recent release of 2009 black sea bass landings. Projected 2009 landings had been mandating a 44% reduction in landings for 2010, but the updated data showed that only a 21% reduction was needed, allowing for the liberalization. For the new regulation to go into effect, individual states will have to implement the new proposal, but given the unanimous support of the states for the motion, implementation is expected.
White Marlin Open Brings In $16,000,000
Visitors to Maryland’s White Marlin Open generated more than $16 million in total economic impact in 2009, according to a study recently completed by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development’s Division of Marketing & Communications – Office of Research. The study evaluated expenditures by visitors during the 2009 White Marlin Open, measuring the total impact of those visits on statewide and local economies.
The study also showed that in addition to the $16 million in total economic impact, salaries totaled $4.9 million. Spending by White Marlin Open visitors created and supported 130 jobs in Maryland, with 70 of those jobs being directly related to visitor spending during the five day competition. More than $745,000 in total tax revenue for the state and local governments was generated.
Figures released in the study represent both direct and secondary impacts. The study collected data on the event fees, accommodations, travel expenses, food and beverage and retail purchases to determine the total economic impact. During the 2009 White Marlin Open visitors generated total spending of $2.2 million per day over a 7 day period.
Based on attendance data provided by the tournament organizers, DBED estimates the White Marlin Open draws more than 5,000 visitors from outside the state during the five day competition. Tournament organizers estimate that 75 percent of participants are from outside Maryland. Each year more than 300 boats and 3,000 anglers compete for greater than $2 million in prizes. The tournament attracts thousands of fishing enthusiasts, families and curiosity seekers who watch the nightly weigh-ins, hoping to catch a glimpse of a million dollar marlin.
“The economic impact of this event generates tremendous benefits for the State and provides significant revenue and jobs to our economy as well. We are ecstatic to continue the tradition and host this year’s 37th annual White Marlin Open on August 2-6, 2010 in Ocean City” said Jim Motsko, President of the White Marlin Open.