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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2
M2 3lr2143
SJ 6/22 – EHE
By: Senator Bailey
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2023
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
A Senate Joint Resolution concerning 1
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission – Atlantic Menhaden – Prohibition 2
on Commercial Reduction Fishing 3
FOR the purpose of requesting the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to 4
consider prohibiting the commercial reduction fishing of Atlantic menhaden, 5
including the use of purse seines and spotter planes, in the Chesapeake Bay; and 6
generally relating to Atlantic menhaden. 7
WHEREAS, Atlantic menhaden are ecologically and economically important to the 8
Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic coast; and 9
WHEREAS, Atlantic menhaden create a vital connection between the bottom and 10
top of the food chain by eating plankton and, in turn, becoming a rich food source for many 11
predators, including rockfish, osprey, and bald eagles; and 12
WHEREAS, The Atlantic menhaden commercial fishery consists of a bait fishery and 13
a reduction fishery in which fish are “reduced” into fish meal, fish oil, and fish solubles; and 14
WHEREAS, The Atlantic menhaden fishery is managed under a plan developed and 15
adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which represents all coastal 16
states from Maine to Florida; and 17
WHEREAS, Despite the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s cap on the 18
commercial harvest of Atlantic menhaden, the cap was exceeded in 2019; and 19
WHEREAS, Spotter planes and purse seines are used in the commercial reduction 20
fishery to locate and catch Atlantic menhaden; and 21
WHEREAS, Atlantic menhaden have been the highest or among the highest 22
poundage landings of any fish species on the East Coast for many years, with the poundings 23
predominantly occurring by the use of purse seines; now, therefore, be it 24
2 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2
RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That, in order to 1
maintain a sustainable Atlantic menhaden fishery, the General Assembly requests the 2
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to consider prohibiting the commercial 3
reduction fishing of Atlantic menhaden, including the use of purse seines and spotter 4
planes, in the Chesapeake Bay; and be it further 5
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of 6
Legislative Services to the Honorable Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland; the Honorable 7
William C. Ferguson, IV, President of the Senate of Maryland; and the Honorable Adrienne 8
A. Jones, Speaker of the House of Delegates. 9