Article by Larry Jock
Correction to 2013 Maryland Guide to Fishing
On page 43 in the 2013 Maryland Guide to Fishing, it was incorrectly written that “It is illegal to harvest oysters or clams if you are not a resident of Maryland”. Non-Maryland residents are allowed to harvest oysters and clams in Maryland waters.
The oyster season runs from October 1st to March 31st. Each person is allowed 1 bushel per day with harvest times limited to Monday through Friday from sunrise to 3 PM and Saturdays from sunrise to 12 PM. A person may catch oysters only by:
•Hand
•Shaft tongs
•Rakes
•Diving
In Worcester County, each person is restricted to 250 clams per day with a minimum size of 1-inch transverse measurement. Clams may be harvested all year long by hand, hand rake, shaft tongs or by diving. When using a hand scrape or Shinnecock rake, the season is only open from September 16th to May 31st.
Clammers are reminded that they may not clam within 300 feet of any shore or wharf without owners permission.
Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council Seeks Public Input on Omnibus Recreational Amendment
This week the Council will hold five public hearings throughout the Mid-Atlantic region to gather public input on the Draft Omnibus Recreational Accountability Measure Amendment. The amendment was initiated in December 2012 to evaluate alternatives to the existing accountability measures for 5 recreational fisheries—summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, bluefish, and Atlantic mackerel.
Current regulations require that a recreational overage (when the catch exceeds the Annual Catch Limit) be paid back in a subsequent year.
The amendment will consider a range of alternatives, including both proactive management measures and reactive measures. Combinations of proactive and reactive measures can be used to prevent overages from occurring and address overages when they do occur.
Additional information about the alternatives being considered is available in the Draft Public Hearing Document.
Written comments must be received on or before 5 p.m., EST, on May 15, 2013. Comments may be submitted in one of the following ways:
1.Emailed to [email protected] with "RECREATIONAL AM Amendment" included in the subject line.
2. Mailed to the Council office at: 800 North State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901. Should be marked ‘‘RECREATIONAL AM AMENDMENT’’.
3. Online through the MAFMC website.
Please direct questions to Jim Armstrong, Fishery Management Specialist, through email ([email protected]) or telephone (302) 526-5250.