Yellow Perch Restoration Incompatible with Commercial Fishery

Annapolis, MD –At public meetings held this week on the future of yellow perch management, Coastal Conservation Association Maryland (CCA MD) asked the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to list the yellow perch as a no-sale species. No-sale status would make it illegal to sell yellow perch in the state of Maryland. This includes the export of yellow perch which accounts for almost all of the commercial landings in Maryland.

Yellow perch fishing once signaled the start of the fishing season for thousands of Maryland recreational fishermen as they lined the shores of tributaries throughout the state. For some anglers, fishing for yellow perch meant fishing through the ice of the upper Bay during the winter months of January and February. Sadly, both of these recreational fisheries and the economic benefits they provided have all but disappeared.

Eleanore Benjamin, owner of Herb’s Tackle Shop in North East and member of CCA MD, says, “Thirty years ago, our business relied on ice fishing for yellow perch when everything else slowed down. Hundreds of anglers would venture out onto the ice for yellow perch on the weekends. Now, we’re lucky if a dozen people stop in our store.”

Commercial fishing accounts for an estimated 90% of fishing mortality on yellow perch. Recreational anglers have accepted restrictions despite the negligible impact their fishing has on the stock. CCA MD first sought an equitable split in the allocation of yellow perch between recreational and commercial users, and when that was rejected by state regulators, asked that the commercial catch be reduced with no increase in the recreational creel limit. There is currently no limit on the amount of yellow perch that can be caught and sold by commercial fishermen.

Sherman Baynard, lifelong resident of Maryland’s eastern shore and chairman of CCA MD ’s Fisheries Committee, was shocked to learn that DNR was considering allowing a commercial fishery in the Choptank and Nanticoke River systems in light of statistics that indicate expanding yellow perch populations.

“Finally, some good news for yellow perch, and the DNR responds by considering to reward the special interests,” he said. “Is the DNR’s job to protect the resource for the public or just for a few fyke netters who sell and ship their catch out of state?”

CCA MD has worked tirelessly for 8 years to restore the once abundant yellow perch population to its historic geographic range and age structure. The fishery is characterized today by its absence from river systems it use to occupy and a lack of older, larger fish. CCA MD ’s efforts have included stocking and monitoring programs and pressure on state regulators to reduce fishing mortality to give depressed stocks a chance to recover.

Bill Curry, President of CCA MD and resident of southern Maryland, grew up fishing both commercially with his family and recreationally.

“Fyke nets are terribly efficient when set in the confined headwaters of our tributaries downstream of where yellow perch come to spawn,” he said. “Shorebound recreational anglers fishing with rod and reel don’t have a chance competing with a wall of nets that block yellow perch from reaching their destination.”

“The DNR is ignoring its own fisheries management plan that calls for restoration of yellow perch. Since the DNR will not commit to a comprehensive restoration effort and is unwilling to control a commercial fishery that benefits less than 40 people with modest restrictions, we are left with no choice but to seek no-sale status”, added Robert Glenn, Executive Director of the Maryland chapter of CCA.

DNR is accepting public comment on proposed regulatory changes in yellow perch management through December 9, 2005. Submit comment to Dale Weinrich, Fisheries Service, Matapeake Work Center, 301 Marine Academy Drive, Stevensville, MD 21666, telephone 410-643-6801 x126, fax 410-643-4136, or email dweinrich@dnr.state.md.us. Visit www.ccamd.org for more details.