CCA MD Calls For No Increase in Yellow Perch Limit For Recs, Closing Commercial Season During Spawning

The Coastal Conservation Association Maryland (CCA MD) this week submitted a wide range of comments on yellow perch regulatory options from maintaining current creel limits for recreational anglers to keeping the commercial fishery closed during spawning time. CCA MD represents more than 1,800 recreational anglers and conservation-minded citizens.

CCA MD’s letter was sent to Tom O’Connell, Maryland fisheries director, as the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Fisheries Service prepares to submit new proposed yellow perch regulations.

“As DNR determines its final proposed regulations, it must place the good of the fish first, not the desires of any segment of Maryland’s population,” said Ken Hastings, CCA MD yellow perch coordinator. “Yellow perch belong to all Maryland citizens, and each year many families teach their youngsters angling skills and conservation ethics when fishing for yellow perch.”

The letter offers recommendations on management options for both recreational and commercial anglers, areas to be opened to fishing, net restrictions, user fees, and the process for finalizing the plan.

CCA MD also applauded DNR for its work in preparing its paper on regulatory options.

“CCA MD commends the Department and especially the Fisheries Service staff for developing a biologically based management regime for yellow perch and presenting a range of options for implementation of a very conservative, yet acceptable, management approach,” wrote Sherman Baynard, chair, CCA MD Fisheries Committee, in the letter to O’Connell.

“CCA MD has requested this type of action previously and sponsored a legislative effort through HB 65 to develop biologically based management plans for all Bay fisheries.”

Among comments CCA MD made were—

• Recommending that the daily creel limit for recreational anglers remain at five fish, instead of the 10 currently in DNR’s option paper until Maryland has a better mechanism to account for the recreational catch;

• Urging that the commercial fishery be closed from Feb. 15 through March 14 when yellow perch spawn to allow for more successful spawning;

• Supporting the proposed requirement that commercial fishers must register;

• Urging that the tags commercial fishers receive when they register be based on their total allowable catch, and that when they have used all their tags, they must stop fishing;

• Requiring commercial fishers to cover the management costs of their commercial fishery through purchase of tags starting in 2010.

“With the estimated decline in state revenue, the Department and the Fisheries Service are likely to face additional reductions in their budgets and drops in fee revenue,” points out Robert Glenn, CCA MD executive director. “A logical approach to handling the management costs of the commercial yellow perch fishery during tight fiscal times would be to charge fishers to cover those costs.”

CCA MD also urged DNR to hold a public comment session before publishing the proposed regulations in the Maryland Register.

“History tells us that once regulations are in the Maryland Register, it’s more difficult to make substantive changes,” Glenn said. “Waiting until after the comment period to publish regulations will place greater emphasis on the public’s voice.”