Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fisheries Processing And Restoration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Delegation presses federal help for blue catfish processing and seeks pause on federal oyster sanctuaries
Summary
Lawmakers and the delegation discussed federal support for blue catfish processing infrastructure and a proposed five-year federal pause on certain oyster sanctuary projects; Rep. Harris and state lawmakers said funding and regulatory changes are needed to scale processing and restore the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster industry.
Sen. (name provided in transcript as) and other members of the Eastern Shore delegation described two connected fisheries issues: boosting processing capacity for invasive blue catfish and reconsidering federal oyster sanctuary restoration programs.
Sen. Mounts (as identified in the transcript) told the delegation he intends to introduce legislation to impose a five-year pause on new federal oyster sanctuary restoration projects to reassess outcomes, asserting that many sanctuaries have not produced expected results. He said the goal is to rebalance "aquaculture, the commercial fishery, and the sanctuary system." Mounts and other delegates invited Rep. Andy Harris to help intervene at the federal level.
On blue catfish, Harris and Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks said the choke point is processing capacity and USDA inspection rules. "Some of the delay has been that, somebody put in a requirement that the, the person who applies to build a processing plant has to hold a title license for a certain number of years," Harris said, calling the requirement a bureaucratic barrier. He said he will seek increased appropriations and reduced bureaucratic hurdles to speed construction of processing hubs.
Why it matters: Mounting populations of blue catfish threaten native species and fisheries; increasing processing capacity would enable commercial harvest and market development. Oyster programs affect habitat restoration and fisheries recruitment throughout the Chesapeake Bay.
Officials discussed potential federal funding for processing hubs and coordination between NOAA, USDA and state agencies. Mounts emphasized the need for a multi-pronged approach that combines policy fixes and investments to both grow processing and revisit sanctuary strategies.
No formal votes were taken. Delegation members asked Harris and agency staff to continue conversations with Commerce/NOAA, USDA and EPA about funding and regulatory fixes.
