EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1232*
HOUSE BILL 1232
M2 4lr2981
CF SB 711
By: Delegates Jacobs, Arentz, Buckel, Chisholm, Foley, Grammer, Griffith,
Guyton, Hartman, Hornberger, Hutchinson, Kipke, Mangione, McComas,
T. Morgan, Otto, Rose, and Tomlinson
Introduced and read first time: February 8, 2024
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Fisheries – Striped Bass or Rockfish – Juvenile Survey 2
FOR the purpose of expanding the scope of the annual young–of–the–year juvenile survey 3
of striped bass or rockfish by requiring the Department of Natural Resources to 4
conduct the survey at sampling sites in the central region of the Maryland waters of 5
the Chesapeake Bay in addition to sampling sites in the northern and southern 6
regions of the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay; establishing certain 7
requirements for the central region sampling sites; and generally relating to striped 8
bass or rockfish. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Natural Resources 11
Section 4–746 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Natural Resources 17
4–746. 18
(A) (1) The Department shall conduct annually a scientific survey to determine 19
the relative abundance of striped bass or rockfish of approximately 18 inches in length that 20
are in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1232
(2) The survey shall be conducted in areas that are used by the Department 1
to determine its young–of–the–year index of striped bass or rockfish. 2
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 3
(1) CONDUCT THE ANNUAL YOUNG–OF–THE–YEAR JUVENILE SURVEY 4
OF STRIPED BASS OR R OCKFISH AT BETWEEN 12 AND 20, INCLUSIVE, SAMPLING 5
SITES LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF TH E MARYLAND WATERS OF TH E 6
CHESAPEAKE BAY IN ADDITION TO SAMPLING SITES IN THE NORTHERN AND 7
SOUTHERN REGION S OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY; AND 8
(2) LOCATE THE CENTRAL REGION SAMPLING SITES IN AN Y OF THE 9
FOLLOWING WATERS OF THE STATE: 10
(I) THE MAGOTHY RIVER; 11
(II) THE SEVERN RIVER; 12
(III) THE CHESTER RIVER; 13
(IV) THE SOUTH RIVER; 14
(V) THE WEST RIVER; 15
(VI) EASTERN BAY; OR 16
(VII) THE MILES RIVER. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 18
1, 2024. 19