In The News!
The following introductory paragraphs and links are provided as a sources for finding relevant information of interest to our area FOP members. Clicking the article title will open new page (or a tab) over the top of this page. To return here, just close the new page. Pages are listed by date of the articles with the more recent articles listed first. Most old articles can still be found in the right gray column.
Natural Resources officers earn recognition for sting, heroism. - Southern Maryland News
May 11,2010 - The Award of Valor for saving a distraught man as he jumped over the side of the Patuxent River Bridge last summer was presented to Officer First Class Timothy Pheabus of Hampstead..
State, scientists work to rebuild oyster population. - Southern Maryland News
May 12,2010 - Now state officials hope an oyster hatchery, combined with new oyster sanctuaries, can help bring that population back from the brink.
Oyster poachers now more likely to end up in hot water as police, accountability increase. - Bay Journal
April 2010 - Most watermen welcome new policies, which accompany efforts to restore oysters. Three NRP officers of our area are named in this article on enforcement.
Legislative Score Card - Natural Resources Gain Ground - Baltimore Sun
April 18, 2010 - The article makes a summary of the legislative progress in 2010's session.
As Oyster War Heats Up, Maryland Cracks Down on Poachers - Washington Post
March 23, 2010 - "The first time there was a war over the Chesapeake Bay's oysters -- in the 1800s -- ............. This year's oyster war is being fought with cellphones, glow sticks, fast boats and night-vision technology, but for the opposite reason. "
Time to ban commercial oyster harvest - Baltimore Sun
February 8, 2010 - "After reading "Oysters vs. oysterman" (Feb. 7) I can't help but feeling dismayed that we still have not totally banned the commercial harvest of a once plentiful s hellfish. The fact that the bay contains less than 1 percent of its previous oyster population tells me that this one is a no brainer. Maryland's oyster population has been decimated not o nly from disease but from severe overharvesting both legal and illegal."
$15 saltwater license to be proposed in Md. - Baltimore Sun
January 29, 2010 - Aware of NOAA required registration for fisherman this year? What about a proposed Md $15 license? That bill would also "...increase the length of short-term licenses from five to seven days; establish a free registry for anglers fishing from pleasure boats, waterfront property owners and their immediate family fishing from their property and individuals fishing in a free fishing area; create reciprocal fees for nonresident tidal licenses; and authorize a commercial pier fishing license.
Waterman March to Protest Oyster Harvesting - Baltimore Sun
January 20, 2010 - "Watermen say their ability to harvest oysters is threatened by Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan."
Watermen Support Senate Power Dredging Bill - WJZ
January 19, 2010 - "hat fear prompted about 100 watermen to take a day off work and come to Annapolis to do some grassroots lobbying. They are supporting a Senate bill they say will protect power dredging and their livelihoods.."
Breaking the law won't be water under the bridge - Baltimore Sun
January 10, 2010 - "Fed up with the nonsense, Dels. Dan Morhaim and Stephen Lafferty of Baltimore County sponsored the bill that ordered DNR to make changes."
Natural Resources Police Cracking Down on Oyster Violations - Baltimore Sun
January 9, 2010 - "A Rock Hall waterman with numerous poaching convictions was charged with stealing oysters twice in one week and has had his license suspended for the rest of the season...."
An Industry in It's Death Throws - Baltimore Sun
December 27, 2009 - "... that way of life increasingly seemed all but over as oyster and blue crab populations dropped lower and lower, hitting crisis levels."