INFO ALERT: Symposium Seeks to Address Future of Fisheries Management in Chesapeake Bay

WHAT: Saltwater Fisheries Management for the 21st Cenutry
WHEN: Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
WHERE: Loews Annapolis Hotel, 126 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

Invited Speakers
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. and Mayor Martin O'Malley

Speakers
Changing times in Maryland fisheries
Sherman Baynard, Chairman, Fisheries Committee, Coastal Conservation Association Maryland
Economics 101: Using economics for allocation decisions
Brad Gentner, Economist, National Marine Fisheries Service
State fisheries management: how did we get here, where are we going?
Steve Early, Assistant Director, Fisheries Service, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The fisheries reform process: how it worked and didn't work in North Carolina
Dick Brame, Atlantic States Fisheries Director, Coastal Conservation Association
Affecting the process: increasing angler influence on fisheries management
Russell Nelson, PhD, Fisheries Scientist, Nelson Resources Consulting, Inc.

Open Forum for Questions and Answers from 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Moderator: Bruce Matthews, President, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation

Open to all interested parties at no charge. Direct all related inquiries to CCA MD's office in Annapolis, 1-888-758-6580 or info@ccamd.org.

Sponsored By
American Sportfishing Association
The Campbell Foundation
FishAmerica Foundation
Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Foundation
Middendorf Foundation
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Coastal Conservation Association Maryland

You Should Participate
Through an exchange of ideas we strive to promote the evolution of new fisheries management strategies guiding Maryland's fisheries into the 21st century. If you are a candidate for state office, media representative, DNR personnel, commercial or recreational fisherman, or an interested citizen, you should join us at this free event and be involved in the process of change.

How Things Evolved
Decades ago commercial hunting and fishing were outlawed throughout Maryland with the exception of the saltwater fishery, which helped shape the State's development, particularly on the Eastern Shore. The early predecessor agencies of DNR were formed to address user conflict and to manage stocks for commercial fishing interests. With continual growth in population and development, people increasingly looked toward the Bay for recreational fishing and boating opportunities. This expanding growth has continued and created many new problems impacting the Bay and its resources.

Current State
The Bay's productivity is in an advanced downtrend. Many of our marine resources are in decline while Maryland's Fisheries Service is under-funded and under-manned. Commercial fishermen struggle with overcapitalization and shrinking profit margins, and the social and economic value of recreational fishing is not being fully recognized.

Future Directions
It has become obvious to anglers that the management of our marine resources remains rooted in the practices of the past. A better balance of priorities is needed to satisfy the growing recreational and environmental interests of our residents and to expand the Bay's economic benefits to the state. Join us to explore the issues and develop new approaches to fishery management. Together we can initiate a smooth transition of our marine resource management into the 21st century.