CCA Maryland OPPOSES the dredging of buried shell, and SUPPORTS House Bill 500 & Senate Bill 979

• Anglers, crabbers, boaters and Upper Bay watermen all oppose the dredging of Man O War Shoal.
• Man O War Shoal is an important fishing and crabbing location that supports the local ecology and economy.
• Proposed shell dredging will cut large holes on either side of the shoal, forever impacting it’s stability and value as habitat and structure.
• The Upper Bay region has already endured the removal of over 196M bushels of buried shell, an action that cost the taxpayers of Maryland nearly 50 million dollars from 1960-2006.
• History tells us that there are no long lasting public benefits in using buried shell to try and enhance habitat elsewhere.
• Maryland leaders should focus on other actions that can be made to improve oyster habitat, and not destroy existing habitat to attempt to supplement the wild oyster fishery and habitat enhancement in other portions of the Bay.

For more information on why CCA Maryland supports House Bill 500 and Senate Bill 979 to protect Man O War Shoal at savemanowar.org