Natural Resources - Blue Catfish - Population Control

SB 960 creates a new commercial license for catching blue and flathead catfish in Maryland's tidal waters, primarily affecting commercial fishers who target these species. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to establish a pilot program allowing finfish trotlines up to 2,400 feet long, no limit on hooks, and non-corrosible hooks for blue catfish harvest. It mandates an annual $15 license fee (valid Sept. 1-Aug. 31) and requires the Department of Agriculture to report by Sept. 2025 on processing, marketing, and financing blue catfish harvests. The legislation aims to manage blue catfish populations in the Chesapeake Bay through regulated commercial fishing methods.