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Governor O'Malley explains to a young citizen the significance of the bills being signed into law at the 2011 Bill Signing Ceremonies. |
Last month, Senate President Miller, Speaker Busch and I signed into law several bills passed by the General Assembly that improve enforcement of fishing laws and increase penalties to deter those who would take oysters, striped bass or crabs illegally. Poaching hurts both honest watermen and our fishery resources, and I hope these new laws will help put an end to poaching.
We also signed two new laws that streamline permitting and expand oyster aquaculture by allowing leasing of barren areas within oyster sanctuaries. These new laws will increase opportunities for jobs and small businesses, and increase the number of oysters that filter the waters of the Bay.
A bill limiting the user of lawn fertilizer will reduce the excess nitrogen and phosphorus that wash into the Bay from yards and grassy areas. Other Bay states are considering similar legislation, and we hope they will join our effort to protect one of our greatest natural resources.
We also remain committed to providing our children with a more sustainable future. Two other legislative issues - the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act and our proposal to rethink the use of septic systems in new housing developments - are still being discussed, and we hope that discussions in the next few months will help our legislators decide how to best move forward.
Whether you enjoy boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, or some other activity, I hope you and your family will enjoy the variety and richness of Maryland's outdoor opportunities as we enter into the early weeks of summer.
