Tawes State Office Building – 580 Taylor Avenue – Annapolis, Maryland 21401 410-260-8DNR or toll free in Maryland 877-620-8DNR – dnr.maryland.gov – TTY Users Call via the Maryland Relay

Commission Orientation/Educational Presentation

January 28, 2020 Tawes State Office Building

C-1 Conference Room Annapolis, MD 21401 11:45 A.M. – 1:15 P.M.

Fishing and Boating Services is holding an informal presentation, including time for questions and answers, for all commissioners. Staff will present quick overviews of the unit’s various programs in order to give commissioners a better understanding of why and how the unit functions, in order to help commissioners make informed decisions. Divisions/Programs scheduled to present and answer questions include:

• Stakeholder Outreach and Services Division • Freshwater Fisheries • Shellfish Division • Fish Health and Hatcheries • Fisheries Monitoring and Assessment Division • Stock Health, Data Management and Analysis Division

The Legislative and Regulatory Review Division and the Natural Resource Police will be on hand to answer questions throughout. Other divisions not presenting include:

Aquaculture and Industry Enhancement Division Fiscal and Management Services Boating Services Division, including Hydrographic Operations

If you have questions for divisions on present, please submit to paul.genovese@maryland.gov for a response. Light fare will be provided. Contact Paul Genovese at paul.genovese@maryland.gov or 410-260-8328.

Fishing and BoatingServices

Boating Services Division

Stock Health, Data

Management and Analysis

Division

Aquaculture and Industry

Enhancement Division

Fiscal and Management

Services Division

Fisheries Management

and Assessment

Division

Legislative and

Regulatory Review Division

Shellfish Division

Stakeholder Outreach and

Services Division

Stakeholder Outreach and Services Division

Team Members:Paul Genovese Angel WrightKevin Ensor George O’Donnell Eric Wilson Keith LockwoodErik Zlokovitz Karen Knotts

Contact us @ 410-260-8300

What’s the Need?

• Stakeholder engagement and understanding are vital to achieving Fishing and Boating Services mission.

• Need an informed and involved public that understands the decision making process.

• Must encourage stakeholder participation

What’s the Role?

Support public understanding & engagement through a variety of platforms and activities:

– Customer service and support systems– Print and digital communication platforms– Outreach events, shows, stakeholder meetings and

presentations– Liaison support for Sport & Tidal Fishery Advisory

Commissions– Promote and encourage participation in recreational

fishing in Maryland

A Typical Year… – 1,200 phone calls and 500 customer service emails.– 200,000 print copies and 530,000 online views Maryland

Guide to Fishing and Crabbing– 1,000 web page updates and 1,000 social media posts– 250+ outreach emails to email list subscribers (256,000)– 50+ radio shows and 5 tradeshows/events (totaling 26 days) – 41 editions of the online Maryland Fishing Report– 20 constituent letters processed on behalf of Secretary or

Governor regarding fishing or boating questions– 8 meetings of Sport and Tidal Fisheries Advisory

commissions. – 21 articles developed and 30 press releases drafted – 500+ angler awards (12 Angler; 2 Expert; 1 Master) and 10

state records for recreational fishing

Freshwater Fisheries Program

Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission

January 28, 2020

• 25 classified positions• 20+ are fisheries biologists • Funding - special, federal, general• 7 office locations

Freshwater Fisheries Program

Responsible for Managing Maryland’s Diverse Freshwater Fisheries Resources

Protection, Restoration, and Conservation of Aquatic Resources and Habitat Provide Ecological, Social, and Economic Benefits to Maryland Residents

and Visitors

Freshwater Fisheries Program

Pro tournamentsGuides

Coldwater Fishes

Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii)

Coolwater Fishes

Northern Pike (Esox lucius)

Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieuWalleye (Stizostedion vitreum)

Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)

Warmwater Fishes

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii)

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)

Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus)

Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Freshwater Fisheries Program

Core Function Research, population surveys, habitat and water quality assessment

• Utilize scientifically valid, standardized survey and assessment techniques –SOP documents

• Data Sources‒ Independent Fishery Data – relative abundance, yearclass strength, size

distribution, condition, growth and mortality‒ Dependent Fishery Data – angler effort, catch, harvest

• Data and results allow for sound fisheries management decisions – somemanagement guided by Fishery Management Plans

Water Body Types• Coldwater Streams

and Rivers• Impoundments• Major Rivers• Tidal Freshwater

Freshwater Fisheries Program

Core Function Stocking

• Purpose: restoration, enhancement, create new population, or provide forage• Work directly with Fish Health and Hatcheries Program staff

Species Freshwater Fisheries Effort

Largemouth Bass ~ 225 person days stocking troutTrout (RBT, BRT: adult & fingerlings) ~ 75 person days stocking other speciesSunfish (redear and bluegill)WalleyeTiger MuskieGolden ShinersHybrid SunfishOthers

Freshwater Fisheries Program

Core Function Promulgate regulations to achieve specific management objectives

• Follow departmental rule making steps – public scoping and regulatory process• Examples: gear, size limits, season, daily and possession limit, special

management areas, etc.

Recent Regulation for 2019 (Effective November 4, 2019): • Possession limit twice the daily creel for the special trout management areas• Clarifies description of the Fishing Creek put and take area• Allows keeping of striped bass from all impoundments, not just ones listed in Guide

2018 Example:Delayed Harvest, South Branch Patapsco River

Freshwater Fisheries Program

Core Function Invasive Species: non-native species that can cause ecological and/or economic harm

• Research, education/regulations, and marketing effortsFlathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)

Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)

Northern Snakehead (Channa argus)Northern Snakehead (Channa argus)

http://www.midatlanticpanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Maryland-Aquatic-Nuisance-Species-Plan-2016.pdf

Freshwater Fisheries Program

Core Function Conduct environmental review and provide technical information and guidance

• Environmental Review – process by which Units within the Department of Natural Resources work together to review proposed projects submitted by outside entities, on private/public property and make recommendations to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to the environment/natural resources

• ~ 1700 of these reviews are conducted by DNR annually, based on regional assignments or topic area of expertise within the unit

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Maryland Dept. of Environment (MDE), Maryland Dept. of Planning (MDP), Maryland Dept. of Transportation (MDOT), State Highway Administration (SHA), andU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)Others

Freshwater Fisheries Program

Core Function Education and Outreach

• Outreach material: monthly report, survey summaries, Anglers Log entries, material for the weekly Fishing Report, customer service responses - inform constituents of management activities and angling opportunities

• Angler Events – Youth and Adult‒ Rodeo Events: stocked with trout or hybrid sunfish, provide needed guidance‒ Backyard Fishing Initiative: set locations, stocking, teach basic fishing skills‒ Department Sponsored/Partnered Events: education modules may include

fish identification, casting, knot tying, fish handling, tackle/bait selection, etc. ‒ Maryland Youth Anglers Log: youth can post catches

Freshwater Fisheries ProgramCore Function Education and Outreach (continued)

• provide presentations on fishery resources and Freshwater issues to other state agencies, county governments, federal agencies, NGOs, and fishing organizations/clubs

Example: Coldwater Resources Mapping Tool – 2018 initiative, but regularly updated

• A web based interactive mapping tool that provides spatial distribution of coldwater resources, life history and habitat needs of trout and contact information for staff within Maryland Department of Natural Resources for technical assistance

.

1. DNR – internal units2. MDE – multiple programs3. USFWS4. County Government5. SHA6. Consultants, NGOs

2018-19 Meetings

Freshwater Fisheries Program

Core Functions Advocating for and Providing Angler Access

• Stewardship Team Review – help prioritize departmental land purchases that benefit anglers

• Waterway Access Bill (HB 797), 2013 - Maryland bridge and road projects adjacent to waterway – require water access consideration – we submit comments in support of such improvements

• Fishery Management Areas (17 total) – pond and river access‒ Beaver Creek/Jackson FMA – recent acquisition that provides fishing

access to a unique spring creek wild trout fishery.

Questions?

Overview of the Shellfish Division

SFACJanuary 2020

Shellfish Division

Christopher Judy, Director chris.judy@maryland.gov443-223-0472

Jodi Baxter, Deputy Directorjodi.baxter@maryland.gov410-260-8254

Who we are

• Oysters are important Ecologically and Economically.– They improve the biological richness of the Bay, they create “live

bottom”, – They provide income and jobs in the tidewater area.

• Oysters are at historically low levels and recovery is needed.– “More Oysters” is a shared goal of all groups.

• Clams, both coastal and bay populations, are also important ecologically and economically.

Why Manage Shellfish

Shellfish DivisionFour Main Programs

• Industry Management

• Sanctuary Restoration

• Monitoring and Data Analysis

• Outreach (Md’ers Grow Oysters)

What we do

Sanctuaries The DNR Shellfish Division works with many groups to plan and conduct

restoration efforts, primarily in 5 large scale sanctuary areas. • OAC, TFAC, SFAC, NOAA, US Army Corps of Engineers, UMD, County

Oyster Committees, MWA, and others.

FisheryThe Division works with many of the same groups to develop management

plans for the fishery based on existing population data and a recent “stock assessment” study.

MonitoringThe Division tracks the population and habitat annually through the Fall

Survey and other surveys to monitor the status of oysters.

OutreachThe Md’ers Grow Oysters Program engages pier owners to grow and plant

oysters.

How we manage

• Fixed stations• Spatfall Index• Disease Information• Observed Mortality Index• Biomass Index• Cultch Index

• Additional sites• Shell and seed plantings

• 272 bars surveyed in 20186

DNR Fall Survey

7

Sanctuaries

Sanctuaries represent the 24 percent of oyster bars that are unavailable to commercial harvest in order to:1. Enhance ecological contributions2. Expand broodstock

51 sanctuary areas of which five are large-scale restoration tributaries with major investment and spat plantings:

• Harris Creek • Little Choptank• Tred Avon • St. Mary’s • Manokin

Large scale restoration sanctuary Sanctuary

• “Restoration Blueprints” are developed for large scale sanctuary projects, working with the “Interagency Workgroup”, various groups, and the public. The plans are implemented in MD’s 5 large scale sanctuary areas.

• County Oyster Committee meetings to develop industry enhancement plans of shell plantings, seed plantings, and harvest management areas.

• Spat production and planting of up to 1 billion spat occurs.• Oyster Advisory Commission meetings to develop recommendations

and actions for oyster sanctuary and harvest areas.• Annual Fall Survey to monitor over 300 oyster bars to track the

status of the resource, in both sanctuary and harvest areas.• Over 2,000 residents grow oysters at their piers and then plant them

in sanctuaries.

A typical year….

• Fall Survey reports• https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/shellfish-

monitoring/reports.aspx

• Five Year Review• https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/oysters/5-Year-

Oyster-Review-Report.aspx

• OAC• https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/mgmt-

committees/oac-index.aspx

9

Additional Information

Shellfish Division

Christopher Judy, Director chris.judy@maryland.gov443-223-0472

Jodi Baxter, Deputy Directorjodi.baxter@maryland.gov410-260-8254

Questions……..

• Fish and oyster hatcheries• Migratory fish species restoration and

conservation• Aquatic Animal Health• Wildlife Health• Stranding program• GIS initiatives

Fish Health & Hatcheries Program

Resources

• 50 classified and contractual positions

• Funding-federal , special, reimbursable, general, revenue

• 4 active coldwater facilities• 3 warm water facilities• 1 shellfish facility• 5 cooperative culture facilities• Aquatic animal health

laboratory

• Produce and stock: 3 trout species, 6 anadromous species, imperiled freshwater mussels, more than a dozen warm and cool water fish species

• Restoration projects for anadromous fish• Shellfish disease research and monitoring• Tidal fish health research• Laboratory diagnostics and research• Operation of 55’ R/V Chesapeake• Wildlife health, marine mammals, sea turtles• Co-management of the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory• GIS development and operations

What do we do?

Facility Locations

Hatcheries Management Needs

• Population restoration• Population enhancement• “Put and take” stocking• Corrective stocking• Outreach and education• Research• Children’s fishing rodeos

Species Produced (current and historical)

Rainbow troutBrown troutCutthroat troutBlack crappieBluegillFathead minnowGolden shinerGreen sunfishHybrid sunfishLargemouth bassRedear sunfishSmall mouth bassWalleye

MuskyTiger muskyStriped bassYellow perchHickory shadAmerican shadBlueback herringAlewife herringAtlantic sturgeonEastern oysterSpecial projects (eel, snakehead, imperiled species)

Five Hatchery Programs

• Coldwater Hatcheries

• Manning Hatchery• Unicorn Lake

Hatchery• Piney Point

Aquaculture Center• Anadromous Species

Restoration

Fish Culture

All Life Stages

Marking and Tagging

Stocking

Assessment

Research

Anadromous Restoration

• Shad, herring and sturgeon restoration

• Patapsco and Choptank rivers• Aquaculture drugs, INADs• Cooperative culture with GenOn

and Horn Point• Atlantic sturgeon research• Assessment• RTE species conservation and

policy

Fish Health & Biosecurity

Piney Point Aquaculture Center

• Oyster production• Restoration support• Shell bags-corrections

labor• Spat on shell• Special projects• Industry support• Marylanders Grow

Oysters

Aquatic Animal Health Program

• Fish health policy and management

• Wild Fish Health• Shellfish Health• Aquatic Animal Health

Laboratory– Necropsy labs– Bacteriology, histology,

pathology, virology– qPCR– Inspections

Wildlife Health

• Support WHS: bear, deer, birds, epizootic & zoonotic diseases

• NRP and USFWS law enforcement investigations

• Statewide and regional wildlife health planning, monitoring and management

• Marine mammal and sea turtle stranding

GIS Operations• A geographic information system (GIS) is a suite of tools

that supports the capture, manipulation, analysis and display of fisheries data in a spatial context.

• Create, maintain and share spatial data

Recent GIS Products• Six new web-based mapping applications for use by the

public

Public Angler Access LocationsMaryland Striped Bass Regulations Interactive MapLicense Free Fishing Areas MapCharter Boat LocationsTrout Management AreasCommercial Shellfish Harvester Information Portal

• 17 new GIS services or datasets available• Data requests , regulations digitized and mapped• Near real-time map of trout stocking locations (under

development )

Contact

Brian Richardson904 South Morris StreetOxford, Maryland 21654brian.richardson@maryland.gov443.258.6082

Questions?

Monitoring and Assessment Division

Organizational Chart

Michael LuisiDivision Director

410.260.8341 / 443.758.6547Michael.Luisi@Maryland.Gov

Harry HornickStriped Bass / APAIS

410.260.8305Harry.Hornick@Maryland.Gov

Genine McClairBlue Crab410.260.8270

Genine.McClair@Maryland.Gov

Paul PiavisChesapeake Finfish

410.643.4601 x2110Paul.Piavis@Maryland.Gov

Angel WilleyCoastal Fisheries

410.643.4601 x 2101Angel.Willey@Maryland.Gov

Tony ProchaskaInland Fisheries

410.260.8287Tony.Prochaska@Maryland.Gov

Monitoring and Assessment Division

What ‘DO’ we do?

Biological Sampling & MonitoringStaff characterize fish and crab

populations in MD to ensure sustainable use of the resource

Technical Experts / AnalysisStaff represent the Agency on various

technical teams at the intra/inter-state arena – Provide information for policy

decisions at the management level

Stakeholder EngagementStaff work with stakeholder groups to

provide a transparent process that incorporates advice we receive into the

management process

Monitoring and Assessment Division

What ‘DON’T’ we do?

Monitoring and Assessment Division

What is our work used for?

Data Analysis / Technical Expertise

Chesapeake BayManagement

State Specific SpeciesManagement

Interstate / RegionalManagement

Guidance for Policy/Management Decisions

Monitoring and Assessment Division

Interstate / Regional

Interstate / RegionalManagement

Monitoring and Assessment Division

ASMFC

ASMFC Staff(Ex. Dir, FMP Coordinators)

4 meetings a year / Documents

Committees & PanelsTechnical / Advisors

State, Federal, Industry/ENGO

Management BoardsSpecies Specific / Species Groups

3 Representatives from each stateStates within the range of the species

~ Vote on Management Actions ~1 Vote per State

Workgroups made up ofSmall groups ofCommissioners

*States must comply with final Board decisionsFailure to comply with management measures could lead to fishery closures

To be fair…the Board sets an implementation date

Monitoring and Assessment Division

ASMFC

Management Boards3 Representatives from Maryland

Governor’s AppointeeRussell Dize

Proxy: Robert T. Brown

Legislative CommissionerDelegate Dana Stein

Proxy: Phil Langley, Allison Colden

Administrative CommissionerState Fisheries Director

Bill AndersonProxy: Mike Luisi, Lynn Fegley

Monitoring and Assessment Division

MAFMC

Council Staff(Ex. Dir, FMP Coordinators)

6 meetings a year / Documents

Committees & PanelsTechnical / Advisors

State, Federal, Industry/ENGO

Council MembersVoting and Non-voting Members

Voting (State Officials / Appointed)Non-Voting (Federal Offices Support)

~ Vote on Management Actions ~1 Vote per Individual

Council CommitteesSmall g roups of

Council Members

*Recommends Management Action to NOAA Fisheries*

Monitoring and Assessment Division

MAFMC

Maryland’s Council Reps*Selected by NOAA Fisheries

*No Proxy Designations

*MD Obligatory SeatEarl ‘Sonny’ Gwin

1st Term (expires 2020)

*At-LargeScott Lennox

1st Term (expires 2022)

State OfficialsState Fisheries Director/Assistant Dir.

Mike Luisi – Current ChairNo Term Limit

Monitoring and Assessment Division

Questions?

Lynn FegleyDivision Director410-260-8285

Lynn.Fegley@Maryland.gov

Data Management and Quota Monitoring

Carrie Kennedy410-260-8295

Carrie.Kennedy@Maryland.gov

Stock Assessment and Analysis

Alexei Sharov410-260-8288

Alexei.Sharov@Maryland.gov

Fish Habitat and Ecosystem Studies

Jim UphoffOxford Lab

443-258-6087Jim.Uphoff@Maryland.gov

Fish Health and Hatcheries

Brian RichardsonOxford Lab

443-258-6087Brian.Richardson@Maryland.gov

Stock Health, Data Management and Analysis Division

Stock Assessment Specialist

Cooperative with UMCES

Trey Mace

Acquire commercial harvest and effort information for use in in coast wide stock assessments and for quota monitoring

Add expertise to regional and coast wide stock assessments for species

such as crabs, striped bass, menhaden, red drum, tautog, cobia, shad and river herring and oysters

Advise biologists within DNR Fishing and Boating on survey design and statistical analyses

Explore impacts of land use on fish habitat and fisheries

through research and analysis. Relay results to county and state

planning entities.

Develop methodologies for accounting for forage in fisheries management: within the Bay and

coast wide.

Collaborate with stakeholder groups to provide a transparent process that

incorporates advice we receive into the management process

Stock Health, Data Management and Analysis

working at the intersection of science and policy

Fish Jargon Explained

Based on the 2017 Stock Assessment Update, Atlantic menhaden are neither overfished nor experiencing overfishing. Stock status was evaluated against the assessment’s reference points, which used historical performance of the population during the 1960‐2012 time frame. Fishing mortality rates have remained below the overfishing threshold (1.85) since the 1960s, and hovered around the overfishing target (0.8) through the 1990s.*

*From the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) websiteAtlantic Menhaden Summary Page http://www.asmfc.org/species/atlantic-menhaden

A concern we have heard:

Documents on fisheries management are difficult to read – too much jargon!

What is a stock assessment?

An analysis that combines all available information about a species to gain an understanding of the health of the population and of how harvest impacts the population. It means different things for different species.

Amount of data

LESS

MORE

-Lots of data about fisheries and the biology of the animal. -Estimates of abundance, recruitment and harvest rates -biological reference points. Striped bass, menhaden, blue crabs

Major data gaps -No estimate of population size or fishing rates. --Cannot determine how management actions will impact population. -No biological reference points American eel, spot, croaker

Stock assessment update vs. benchmark

Update: simply adds additional years of data to existing data sourcesno new:

methodsdata sourcesattempts to address management questionspeer review

Biological Reference Points are unlikely to change substantially

Benchmark: New:

methodsdata sourcesmanagement questionspeer review

Biological reference points and stock status may change

Plan ahead for input – see what benchmark assessments are upcoming:

http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/ASMFC_AssessmentSchedule_%20Oct2018.pdf

Abundance and Harvest Rates from Stock Assessments

ABUNDANCE:With enough data, stock assessments can estimate a time series of population size which can be expressed as:

NUMBER (N) – simply number of animalsBIOMASS – the number of animals converted to total weightSPAWNING STOCK BIOMASS (SSB) – the number of animals of spawning age (sometimes just females) converted to weight – striped bassFECUNDITY – the amount of eggs produced - menhaden

Time

Abun

danc

e Model estimatesof population size

Abundance and Harvest Rates from Stock Assessments

Harvest Rates:With enough data, stock assessments can estimate a time series of harvest rates which can be expressed as:

Fishing Mortality Rate (F)– this the rate at which animals are removedSometimes it is estimated for specific ages (e.g. only for fish age 4+)Exploitation Rate or Fraction (U)– the percentage of animals of spawning age

Time

Har

vest

Rat

e Model estimatesof harvest rate

Biological Reference PointsHa

rves

t Rat

e

Abun

danc

eStock status = overfishing

Stock status = Overfished or Depleted

- Used to determine stock status and guide management- Often consist of target and threshold rates for both population abundance

and harvest rates. - Thresholds are lines not to cross, Targets are levels to aim for- Managers can directly control harvest rates which should influence

abundance- If harvest rates are too high, overfishing is occurring and action should be

taken to lower fishing rates. Action is often mandated in species plan

target

thresholdtarget

threshold

Biological Reference Points

Generally–

Thresholds are set at levels that, if crossed, bad things will happen (stock decline, stock crash, economic losses)

Targets are set to create a safety buffer away from the threshold and the value depends on the amount of risk that is acceptable to stakeholders and managers

However, in many cases thresholds are set based on objectives for the stock or on professional judgement at the time

There can be opportunity to provide input on the establishment of reference points

Questions?

Also, resources for you if you want to learn more:

A Guide to Fisheries Science and Stock Assessments

http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/GuideToFisheriesScienceAndStockAssessments.pdf

Fisheries Biology for Everyone

http://aquaticcommons.org/412/1/Bortone_Biology.pdf

National Marine Fisheries Service – Stock Assessments 101

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/population-assessments#fish-stocks