Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Invasive Species topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sponsor seeks emergency rules to allow electrofishing and expand trot lines to reduce invasive blue catfish
Summary
Delegate Jacobs introduced HB 1249 to authorize DNR rulemaking for a pilot allowing electrofishing for blue catfish, expand trot line length limitations and relax some hook restrictions; sponsor argued the techniques target scaleless catfish selectively and could help reduce an invasive population harming native species and fisheries.
Delegate Jay Jacobs presented HB 1249 as an emergency bill that would direct the Department of Natural Resources to establish a pilot permitting program for electrofishing to target invasive blue catfish, authorize finfish trot lines up to 2,400 feet, permit an unrestricted number of hooks on trot lines and allow non‑corrodible hooks in specified circumstances.
Jacobs said electrofishing at low frequency can selectively affect scaleless species such as catfish while leaving scaled species untouched, and that a summertime pilot when water temperatures exceed about 70 degrees would be most effective. He described current Virginia limited electrofishing permits and argued Maryland commercial harvesters and watermen need similar tools to manage a growing blue catfish population that drives declines of native species and contributes to fishery and crab losses.
Maryland Watermen’s Association and commercial harvesters testified in support, arguing additional gear options and electrofishing pilots would allow more efficient removals. Committee members noted the legislature had already approved similar provisions earlier in the day in another bill and sought confirmation that the DNR supports the pilot; the transcript shows DNR provided an informational letter and the Maryland Watermen’s Association offered complementary testimony.
Why it matters: supporters characterized the proposal as a targeted, seasonal tool to reduce invasive blue catfish biomass that threatens native fisheries. The sponsor framed the emergency designation as necessary to allow timely regulation and pilot activity during the warmer months when electrofishing is effective.
Discussion and next steps: the sponsor noted possible amendments for short‑line operations and emphasized coordination with DNR. The transcript records favorable statements by watermen and no formal committee vote in the hearing record.
