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Eastern Shore watermen press bill to designate public clam fishery areas and protect bait grounds from leasing
Summary
Delegate Adams and Eastern Shore watermen supported House Bill 1263, which would direct the Department of Natural Resources to identify public clam fishery areas that may not be leased for shellfish aquaculture to protect traditional clamming grounds used for bait.
Delegate Adams introduced House Bill 1263 to the Environment and Transportation Committee on March 11 to require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in consultation with the Fisheries Advisory Commission, to adopt regulations that identify public clam fishery areas in the Chesapeake Bay. The sponsor and Eastern Shore witnesses said the change is meant to protect historic clamming grounds — primarily used for bait clams — from being leased for aquaculture where it would conflict with small watermen's livelihoods.
Jeff Harrison and Robert T. Brown, representing watermen and regional associations, told committee members the 2009 sanctuary/aquaculture changes left a regulatory gap in which clam bait grounds were not explicitly protected during aquaculture lease decisions. They said the current process can allow lease applicants to apply for bottom or water column leases on areas historically used for clamming, and that enforcement or judicial remedies are limited when leases are issued for those areas.
Witnesses described the proposal as limited in scope and intended to reduce user conflicts by creating clear, mapped public clam fishery areas so leasing staff and applicants can avoid productive bait grounds. The Maryland Oystermen's Association and Maryland Watermen's Association provided supportive testimony. The committee did not vote at the hearing.
