WASHINGTON – The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Jamie Raskin, David J. Trone and Glenn Ivey, are urging U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to make a disaster determination as requested by the State of Maryland to begin addressing damage to the local seafood industry by the invasive blue catfish, flathead catfish, and snakeheads. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to provide disaster assistance to the fishing industry when fish populations decline or other disruptions cause economic losses.
“Our state is a leading partner in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, designed to restore this national treasure and natural resource. One of the goals of the agreement, Sustainable Fisheries, is to protect, restore, and enhance finfish, shellfish, and other living resources, their habitats and ecological relationships to sustain all fisheries, and provide for a balanced ecosystem in the watershed. This goal is being undermined by rapid range expansion and population growth of invasive species, particularly of blue catfish, with deleterious impacts on the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem,” the lawmakers wrote. “Timely determination of a commercial fishery failure offers a significant federal tool to provide economic assistance to Maryland fishery participants, coastal communities, and predominantly small seafood businesses.”
Last month, Governor Wes Moore sent a letter to Secretary Raimondo asking the Department of Commerce to declare the expanding population of invasive fish species—including blue catfish, flathead catfish, and snakeheads— an ongoing commercial fishery disaster in the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service within the Department of Commerce will conduct an evaluation of the information provided by the requester. Following a determination by the secretary, NOAA Fisheries works with affected entities to distribute congressionally appropriated funds to support the fishing industry. In previous instances, direct federal financial assistance has been provided to fishermen and fishing communities in the form of grants, job retraining, and low-interest loans. Assistance also has supported efforts to prevent or lessen the effects of future disruptions to fisheries.
The congressional letter follows and can be found at this link.
The Honorable Gina M. Raimondo
Secretary of Commerce
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20230
Dear Secretary Raimondo:
We appreciate your commitment to supporting fisheries management and the U.S. seafood market. On March 16, 2023, the State of Maryland submitted its request to the U.S. Department of Commerce for a fishery resource disaster declaration for multiple Chesapeake Bay species impacted by aquatic invasive species. We urge you to conduct an efficient, comprehensive review of all the required information needed to make a positive determination.
Our state is a leading partner in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, designed to restore this national treasure and natural resource. One of the goals of the agreement, Sustainable Fisheries, is to protect, restore, and enhance finfish, shellfish, and other living resources, their habitats and ecological relationships to sustain all fisheries, and provide for a balanced ecosystem in the watershed. This goal is being undermined by rapid range expansion and population growth of invasive species, particularly of blue catfish, with deleterious impacts on the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Blue catfish are generalist feeders that prey on a wide variety of local species, including those of economic importance and conservation concern.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 included at Division S, Title II, the Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act, facilitating the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) administration of fisheries disaster assistance. The law, enacted on a bipartisan basis, provides federal funding for dedicated NOAA personnel to accelerate review. We ask that you prioritize Maryland’s request when implementing these additional resources.
Timely determination of a commercial fishery failure offers a significant federal tool to provide economic assistance to Maryland fishery participants, coastal communities, and predominantly small seafood businesses. Thank you for your attention to this urgent request.
Sincerely,
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