WASHINGTON — With fishing season approaching, Maryland fishers face uncertainty.
Right now, there are all kinds of different restrictions on size limits and season dates based on whether someone is fishing off the Eastern Shore in state or federal waters.
But Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) is trying to change that. Most recently, he sent a fiery letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration about delays in publishing proposed recreational fishing measures.
He wants the agency to clear up the confusion by approving a set of regulations that would establish one set of rules for fishers in both state and federal waters.
The restrictions Harris favors came from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
“NOAA waited until just weeks before the season to reverse course on these proposed measures, leaving small businesses and watermen on Maryland’s Eastern Shore dealing with the fallout at a critical time,” Harris said in a press release about the letter.
“I’ve heard directly from constituents across the Eastern Shore who are concerned about this delay,” said Harris, who represents that region in Congress.
A spokesperson for NOAA acknowledged the letter from Harris and others who are concerned about these rules. The agency is working on a response, according to the spokesperson.
“NOAA Fisheries remains committed to sustainable and robust recreational fisheries that support American fishermen and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience,” the spokesperson said. “[We] are aware of the letter and will respond through the appropriate channels.”
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has made some recent changes, but that may not be enough for Maryland fishers. The state agency announced recreational fishing measures in state waters that reflect the Harris-supported proposal.
The proposed rules relax minimum size limits and fish possession limits. It also expands the open season.
With the delays in publishing these proposed rules, fishers more than three miles off of Maryland state waters are limited to fewer fish and a shorter fishing season. If they violate these rules, they are subject to severe penalties.
Harris warned that NOAA’s delays could cause chaos for Maryland fishers.
Stakeholders are feeling the pressure with the fishing season set to begin in May. Several people have written to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and NOAA’s Assistant Administrator of Fisheries, Eugenio Piñeiro Soler.
A letter from Christopher Moore, the executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, addressed pressure on the timeline.
“Given that it is already mid-April and all states are planning to open their black sea bass seasons in early or mid-May, a typical rule-making process for the 2026 measures, including the associated public comment periods, will result in extreme disruption to the recreational fishing season,” Moore said.