Maryland Seeks Federal Assistance for Invasive Species That Threaten Chesapeake Bay’s Commercial Fishing Industry

Maryland Governor Wes Moore is calling on the federal government to declare the expanding population of invasive fish species to be an ongoing commercial fishery disaster in the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The governor sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo requesting the declaration under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act. Governor Moore says the state has become increasingly concerned about the explosion in the abundance of invasive fish species in the Chesapeake Bay, including blue catfish, flathead catfish, and snakehead–adding that it’s critical to act now to mitigate the effects of these invasive species and to provide assistance to the commercial fishing industry. The declaration would qualify Maryland for federal fishery disaster assistance.