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Shoreline Planting Brings Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps Together at the Wye
Дата публикации: 26-05-2026 12:12:06
Kerry McClaughry
⋅
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
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A steady drizzle fell over DeCoursey Cove on May 6, soaking into freshly turned soil. The weather didn’t stop a crew of Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps members from getting to work. By the afternoon, native plants filled newly dug garden beds at the Wye Research and Education Center. Mud clung to boots and rain jackets. Just as the sun finally emerged, volunteers traded their shovels for spoons and celebrated over bowls of ice cream.
Organized by Maryland Sea Grant Extension intern and Corps member Michael Wade, the “Shorelines and Sundaes” event blended community building with hands-on training in planning and installing buffer gardens. The Corps places young adults with nonprofit or government agencies to work on Chesapeake Bay watershed issues for a year. For many volunteers, the event was a chance to step outside their usual work settings and build new connections.
Volunteer Aidan Hughley was excited to get outdoors with his fellow Corps members. While digging holes and loosening root balls, he talked about his work removing invasive species and leading educational field trips with the Adkins Arboretum. Others discussed the projects they support in their host organizations, like working with the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Watershed Protection, Restoration, and Planning Program or developing climate action plans for municipalities.
Some also noted the Corps has introduced them to environmental work they hadn’t considered. Sophia Gibby says her work in food waste collection services with the City of Takoma Park involves a lot of community outreach, which has been a new experience for her. Patton Harbourt says he’s enjoyed learning about stormwater and stream restoration while stationed with the Center for Watershed Protection in Fulton, Maryland.
The planting day also gave some volunteers a rare opportunity to work outdoors. “Since my position is really office based, I like taking advantage of site visits, getting outside, and getting my hands dirty,” says Julia Staranowski.
The volunteers installed a border garden and a butterfly garden using plans from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' The Green Book for the Buffer. The gardens will help reduce erosion and nutrient runoff, acting as a buffer between land and water. “Our impacts up here eventually work their way outstream or downstream into the Chesapeake Bay, and we need to lead by example,” says Eric Buehl, a watershed extension specialist with Maryland Sea Grant Extension who helped plan and organize the planting event.
The gardens feature native trees, shrubs, and flowers, including eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), butterfly flower (Asclepius tuberosa), joe-pye weed (Eupatorium dubious), lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and sheep laurel (Kalmus angustifolia). “Unlike a typical best management practice or rain garden, which is really focused on stormwater runoff, these buffer gardens protect both against stormwater runoff but also saltwater intrusion and rising tides,” says Wade.
The project was made possible through the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps mini-grant program, which supports member-led initiatives. Corps members can apply for mini-grants up to $1,250 for projects that advance the organization’s mission.
Wade applied for funds for the shoreline buffer planting project at the Wye, and the mini-grant covered the cost of the native plants. But it was the strong volunteer turnout that made the day a success.
Wade says he’s gained a lot of interpersonal and professional development as a Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps member. He works mainly with Baltimore County residents to reduce stormwater runoff and nutrient pollution in the Bay, connecting communities with research and information in the process. He says that experience echoes a broader benefit of the Corps.
“[The Corps] lets you connect with like-minded people and have some meaningful change, both inside and outside of the office.” That sentiment was reflected in the collective effort and conversation at the Wye on this rainy spring day, where newly planted gardens now buffer the shoreline.
Special thanks to the entire Watershed Protection and Restoration Program team with Maryland Sea Grant Extension; University of Maryland Extension Specialist for Commercial Horticulture Andrew Ristvey; staff at the Wye Research and Education Center; and Chesapeake Conservation and Landscaping Council administrators for their help facilitating and organizing the Shorelines and Sundaes event.
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.
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