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Kerry McClaughry
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August 17, 2026
In May 2025, the Maryland General Assembly took another step in Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts with the passing of the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act. Aspects of this legislation impact aquaculture and commercial fishing industries. Notably, the Legacy Act establishes, for the first time in statute, a statewide water quality monitoring program. Other key points include incorporating the ike jime method of fish processing, altering fishery management plans, and impacting water column lease requirements. As I near the completion of my two-year term as Maryland Sea Grant’s law and policy fellow, I am summarizing these aspects of the Legacy Act. Water Quality Monitoring ProgramOne part of the Legacy Act that garnered support from watermen's associations and NGOs in bill hearings was the formalization of a water quality monitoring program under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Inspired by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science’s real-time dissolved oxygen tracker, this program will collect water quality data across Maryland, allowing commercial fishers and recreational users to access data about the current waterway conditions. Maryland’s Secretary of Natural Resources, Joshua Kurtz, told Senate and House committees the program will “work closely with citizens, … nonprofits, [and] academia to be able to start incorporating more data.”The program aims to use the most up-to-date science to create a “consistent statewide approach” to improve and integrate water quality monitoring data into policies. Data may be used to guide DNR programs on water quality, aquatic habitats, climate change, and resilience planning.One interesting aspect of this program is its use of community science. Data collected by the public can be used by DNR and formally incorporated into the state’s datasets, provided that these findings meet quality assurance requirements. Data collected both by DNR and the public will be provided to the general public to help guide recreational uses of waterways in the state. Ike Jime LicensingSome parts of the Legacy Act aim to increase the economic value of products harvested from the Chesapeake Bay. To that end, the Legacy Act authorizes the use of the ike jime method by commercial fishers and processors. This traditional Japanese method of killing fish for human consumption is a humane euthanizing practice that also produces a high-quality meat. The current standard method of killing fish allows fish to suffocate, increasing stress on the fish and stress hormones within the meat when processed. In contrast, ike jime euthanizes the fish quickly and efficiently before processing. Higher-quality fish can fetch a better price point at market.The Legacy Act addressed a gray area in Maryland law that allowed only recreational fishers to use this method. The amendments to the statute clarify that commercial fishers, who obtain a Tidal Fish License or a commercial northern snakehead fishing license in order to sell their catch, may use the ike jime method. With the amendments to the existing statute, commercial fishers using the ike jime method do not need to obtain a separate license and can sell directly to restaurants.Fishery Management PlansSpanning nearly half of the Legacy Act’s 28 pages, the amendments and additions to Maryland’s fishery management plans were some of the act's most debated aspects. Fishery management plans are regulatory tools created to help ensure fish species are harvested in a sustainable way. This section of the Legacy Act seeks to help Maryland’s commercial fishing industry to be more adaptive to the effects of climate change by streamlining the permitting process between state and federal agencies. The effort is in step with the 2024 Maryland Whole Watershed Act, which made changes to Maryland’s permitting process for stream and floodplain restoration projects. The Legacy Act relieves DNR’s obligation to establish state-level fishery management plans for some species, allowing DNR more flexibility to create pilot programs for those species. The species not affected by this change are white perch, yellow perch, oysters, blue crabs, hard shell clams, catfish, and cownose ray. These species will continue to be guided by DNR-created fishery management plans. For other species, DNR will defer to regional management plans created by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission or a federal Regional Fishery Management Council. DNR may choose to deviate from regional management plans by implementing a Maryland-specific supplement to those plans if “the Department determines that imposing more restrictive measures is necessary.” Importantly, DNR must consult with the Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission, the Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission, and “any other appropriate advisory bodies” when considering a deviation.A lack of existing management planning from a regional commission is now a factor which DNR can consider when deciding the necessity of formulating a new fishery management plan. Other factors include the species population, distribution, habitat needs, or other biological, ecological, climatological, or socioeconomic factors concerning the species or the Chesapeake Bay region. The Legacy Act details what may be included in a state management plan, including, but not limited to, limitations on the catch size and necessary conservation measures.One interesting concern watermen voiced in committee hearings on the bill was the language used to refer to those who fish Maryland’s waters. One section of the statute says DNR may not discriminate in implementing conservation and management measures for fishery management plans. The original verbiage in this section was “may not discriminate unfairly among groups of fishermen” (emphasis added). When legislators changed the word “fishermen” to “anglers,” watermen argued that this terminology shift actually limited the scope. As a result, the final Legacy Act states that DNR may not discriminate against “commercial and recreational fishing participants, including individuals licensed to guide fishing parties and charter boat captains.” This change echoes throughout the rest of that section of the Legacy Act.Water Column LeasesThe Legacy Act also made changes concerning water column leases for aquaculture. Though recent years have seen some of the highest aquaculture production of bivalves in Maryland, our state’s production levels are lower than those of similar states. Regulatory hurdles in the leasing space are one barrier to increasing harvests of oysters by aquaculture, so these changes aim to ensure permit applications proceed smoothly. The act adds a survey requirement, clarifies rules about public information meetings, and details what is required in a written petition protesting the issuance of a water column lease.Based on feedback from watermen, local organizations, and NGOs, the Legacy Act saw several amendments before being passed into law by the General Assembly 10 weeks after its introduction. The act was signed into law by Governor Moore a few weeks later and became effective July 2025. This blog covers several ways the Legacy Act impacts aquaculture and commercial fishing operations in Maryland, but the legislation also includes a strong agricultural focus. You can read more about those facets of the law in my blog for the Agriculture Law Education Initiative.
About
Kerry McClaughry
Kerry McClaughry is the Law and Policy Fellow at Maryland Sea Grant. She is interested in promoting good environmental laws and policies that benefit both the environment and communities in the Chesapeake Bay.Contact the author at communications@mdsg.umd.edu
Learn more about this student:
/post-graduate-fellows/2024/kerry-mcclaughry
It was 5:30 p.m. on a Thursday in May as eight Baltimore City residents filed into the Baltimore Community ToolBank on Wicomico Street. The ToolBank is a lending library and gathering space for nonprofits, schools, civic organizations, and other community groups. Hammer drills, hacksaws, rakes, and wrenches crowd the towering shelves of tools in the rear of the warehouse, and two resident cats patrol the aisles.
Elliot Weidow, executive director of the ToolBank, says the warehouse itself is “the biggest tool we have.” The ToolBank regularly holds community events, including tonight’s rain barrel workshop. Hosted by the Baltimore City Department of Public Works’ GROW Center and led by Maryland Sea Grant Extension specialist Claire Cambardella, the workshop combined stormwater education with rain barrel construction.
Rain barrels are tools for diverting stormwater runoff by capturing and storing rainfall. As stormwater passes over the ground, it picks up pollutants and transports them into waterways. “Stormwater is tricky because it’s this whole mix of different types of pollutants,” says Cambardella. Pollutants include sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which are heavily regulated in the Chesapeake Bay watershed as the region works to achieve water quality standards.
Rain barrels connect to gutter downspouts and typically hold 50-60 gallons of rainwater. “The rain barrel itself is really a drop in the bucket,” says Cambardella. But she says it’s a simple and often cost-effective way for a single person to make a positive impact in managing stormwater.
During the workshop, Cambardella talked about the water cycle and why urban spaces often see a greater volume of stormwater runoff. Cities have more impervious surfaces, like roads, sidewalks, and rooftops, which means more water flows over land rather than sinking into the ground. In areas with fewer plants, evaporation and transpiration processes, where plants take up water from the soil and release it as water vapor through their leaves, tend to decrease. Some participants were surprised to learn that storm drains in Baltimore City, as in many places, carry untreated stormwater directly into local waterways.
The discussion helped participants connect local stormwater issues to actions they could take at home. For many attendees, those connections reinforced the reasons they had signed up for the workshop in the first place. Some shared their interest in helping to reduce pollution entering the Bay. Others were interested in collecting rainwater to use in their gardens and saving money on their water bills. Baltimore City offers a one-time $25 stormwater fee credit for residents who install a 50-gallon rain barrel on their property. Harvested rainwater can harbor bacteria, so Cambardella explained that it’s best to water directly into the soil in the morning and to avoid using water from rain barrels on root crops.
After learning about the benefits of rain barrels, participants had the chance to see stormwater management in action. The group toured the ToolBank, including the large “stormwater factory” active behind the warehouse. Weidow says they use the 3,000-gallon system to wash about 1,500 tools each year. After seeing what’s possible at a larger scale, it was time for participants to assemble smaller systems for their own homes.
The barrels were upcycled from the Ashburton Filtration Plant, a Baltimore water treatment plant. The GROW Center provided the other materials, including downspout connectors and overflow hoses, and the ToolBank supplied the tools. The group worked together to drill holes in the barrels. Then, attendees twisted spigots and hoses into place as they discussed where they planned to install their rain barrels at home.
While rain barrels were the focus of the workshop, Cambardella emphasized that they are often one part of a broader approach to stormwater management at home. “A lot of people call rain barrels the gateway stormwater practice,” says Cambardella. She says conservation landscaping is another effective approach. Conservation landscaping involves replacing lawn or turf grass with native perennial plants, shrubs, and trees. It helps water soak into the ground, increases evapotranspiration, and supports pollinators and wildlife. “All these things are good for stormwater benefits, and they can be really beautiful as well,” says Cambardella.
As the workshop wrapped up, each participant left with a free rain barrel ready to install at home; each barrel another drop in the bucket to reduce runoff, conserve water, and raise awareness about the journey stormwater takes through our cities and into the Chesapeake Bay.
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works holds rain barrel workshops about three times a year. Find out more on the Baltimore GROW Center’s website. Interested in learning more about rain barrels? Check out this new resource on rainwater harvesting from Maryland Sea Grant Extension.
About Ashley Goetz
Ashley is a science writer and digital specialist with Maryland Sea Grant. She enjoys sharing stories about science and research happening in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and its impact on communities across Maryland.
| # | Наименование новости | Тональность | Информативность | Дата публикации |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taking a Practical, Community-led Path to Identify Flooding Solutions | 0 | 14.65 | 02-06-2026 |
| 2 | Getting to Know the Small but Mighty Organisms Living in the Baltimore Harbor | 0 | 13.8 | 05-08-2026 |
| 3 | Chesapeake Scientists Build Connections Around Aquatic Viral Ecology | 0 | 14.96 | 15-05-2026 |
| 4 | The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act’s Impacts on Aquaculture and Commercial Fisheries | 0 | 13.8 | 17-08-2026 |
| 5 | On the Hunt for Crab Viruses | 0 | 14.34 | 02-07-2026 |
| 6 | Baltimore City Teens Dive into Aquaculture, Science, and Sustainable Food Systems | 0 | 14.1 | 17-08-2026 |
| 7 | Shoreline Planting Brings Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps Together at the Wye | 0 | 13.8 | 26-05-2026 |
| 8 | A Farewell Conversation with Director Fredrika Moser | 0 | 14.34 | 29-07-2026 |
| 9 | Bridging Science, Architecture, and Community in a Coastal Student Design Competition | 0 | 13.51 | 08-07-2026 |
| 10 | MD SB559 | 0 | 8.48 | 25-03-2026 |