Baltimore County man becomes 12th FishMaryland Master Angler

BALTIMORE, MD—Ben Halfpap, an angler from Monkton, has caught all three invasive species in Maryland, and caught them at trophy size. Halfpap has now been awarded the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland Master Angler Milestone Award. The award is given to those who have caught ten trophy-sized fish of different species in Maryland. Halfpap is now the 12th person […]

Maryland’s oyster fishery experienced robust harvest in 2023-2024 season

BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Natural Resources this week released harvest totals for the 2023-2024 season harvesting season. The commercial harvest of oysters in Maryland totaled 430,000 bushels from October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. This is the fifth season in the past three decades to exceed the 400,000 bushel harvest mark. “Maryland’s oyster population has notably improved in […]

Gunpowder Falls State Park to receive nearly $2.5 million to improve boating infrastructure

BALTIMORE, MD—A total of $21.5 million will be allocated to improve public boating access, dredging of navigable waterways, and safety for the next fiscal year, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.  In Baltimore County, Gunpowder Falls State Park is set to receive nearly $2.5 million. The funding comes from a variety of sources including a 5% excise tax […]

NOAA awards $10 million grant for Chesapeake Bay oyster sanctuary

BALTIMORE, MD—The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced that it will award a $10 million grant for the construction of a new oyster sanctuary in the Chesapeake Bay. The funding will help establish a sustainable future for the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population, which is critical to the health of the bay’s ecosystems and economy. The new reef will […]

Maryland earmarks $35.8 million for Chesapeake Bay restoration projects

BALTIMORE, MD—A total of 34 ecological restoration projects across Maryland will receive $35.8 million in grants from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced. The grants, awarded for fiscal year 2025, are expected to remove 63,000 pounds of nitrogen, 10,000 pounds of phosphorus and nearly 14,000 tons of sediment from local […]