EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0711*
SENATE BILL 711
M2 4lr2986
CF 4lr2981
By: Senator Bailey
Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
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) The survey shall be conducted in areas that are used by the Department 22
to determine its young–of–the–year index of striped bass or rockfish. 23
2 SENATE BILL 711
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 1
(1) CONDUCT THE ANNUAL YO UNG–OF–THE–YEAR JUVENILE SURVEY 2
OF STRIPED BASS OR R OCKFISH AT BETWEEN 12 AND 20, INCLUSIVE, SAMPLING 3
SITES LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF TH E MARYLAND WATERS OF TH E 4
CHESAPEAKE BAY IN ADDITION TO SA MPLING SITES IN THE NORTHERN AND 5
SOUTHERN REGIONS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY; AND 6
(2) LOCATE THE CENTRAL RE GION SAMPLING SITES IN ANY OF THE 7
FOLLOWING WATERS OF THE STATE: 8
(I) THE MAGOTHY RIVER; 9
(II) THE SEVERN RIVER; 10
(III) THE CHESTER RIVER; 11
(IV) THE SOUTH RIVER; 12
(V) THE WEST RIVER; 13
(VI) EASTERN BAY; OR 14
(VII) THE MILES RIVER. 15
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 16
1, 2024. 17