Watermen calling for changes to bay water regulations

DELMARVA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has publicized regulations to the Department of Natural Resources on striped bass.

Watermen, community members, and store owners came together to discuss the impacts of such regulations. We spoke with Captain Robert Newberry who says on the commercial fishing side, there will be a reduction in the amount of fish that can be caught.

He says this will hurt the industry economically. “We’d like to see the department basically not agree with ASMFC has done because Maryland Department of natural resources has gone above and beyond what the Atlantic States Coastal Fisheries Commission has asked them to do. I mean if you got a level 5 here, Marylands here at a level,” Captain Robert Newberry with Delmarva Fisheries.

Captain Newberry also brought up the closures that occur during the summer and as a result, there will be no targeting or catching of fish from the first of April to the 15th of May which harms the industry. Three weeks off during the vacation time of the year is an issue.