SB 875

Oysters - Rotational Harvest - Pilot Program

Sponsor: Mary Beth Carozza (District 38)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Hunting and FishingStatus: Hearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the rotational harvest pilot program for oysters to be implemented by the Department of Natural Resources; requiring the Department to open certain areas of the Chesapeake Bay to the rotational harvest of oysters in certain manners; requiring the Department, before opening an area to oyster harvesting under the pilot program, to survey and investigate the area to collect certain baseline data and, after closing the area, to continue to monitor the area to collect certain additional data; etc.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (20)

MGA witness list

FAV 11FavorableUNF 8UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Scerbo, William	Anne Arundel Waterman’s Association	Oral
FAV	Howes, Julia	Anne Arundel Watermen's Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	DeMinco, Lynne	BCRW	Position only
FAV	Harris, Mrs	District 25 Constituent	Position only
FAV	Mortus, Timothy	MWA	Oral
FAV	Brown, Robert	Maryland Watermen's Association	Oral
FAV	Haddaway-Riccio, Jeannielobbyist	R&R Solutions	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Harrison, Jeff	Talbot Watermen Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Carozza, Mary Beth	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mullin, James	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Carozza, Senator Carozzalegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Gramp, Kathleen	Advocates for Herring Bay	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Bassett, Elle	Arundel Rivers Federation	Written (PDF)
UNF	Delisle, Ph.D, Marie-Pierre	Assistant Professor, US Naval Academy, Ocean Engineering	Oral
UNF	Sikorski, Davidlobbyist	CCA Maryland	Oral
UNF	Colden, Allisonlobbyist	Chesapeake Bay Foundation	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	McPherson, Lydia	Maryland Department of Natural Resources	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Ford, Benjamin	ShoreRivers	Written (PDF)
UNF	Dietz, Michellelobbyist	The Nature Conservancy	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	nemazie, david	University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Advocates for Herring BayUNF 1

Anne Arundel Waterman’s AssociationFAV 1

Anne Arundel Watermen's AssociationFAV 1

Arundel Rivers FederationUNF 1

Assistant Professor, US Naval Academy, Ocean EngineeringUNF 1

BCRWFAV 1

CCA MarylandUNF 1

Chesapeake Bay FoundationUNF 1

District 25 ConstituentFAV 1

Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesUNF 1

Maryland Watermen's AssociationFAV 1

MWAFAV 1

R&R SolutionsFAV 1

ShoreRiversUNF 1

Talbot Watermen AssociationFAV 1

The Nature ConservancyUNF 1

University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceINFO 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVHaddaway-Riccio, JeannieR&R SolutionsRegistered for: Araminta USA; Dorchester County, Maryland; For All Seasons; Maryland Farm Bureau; Talbot Watermen's Association; Tetrus Corp.…

UNFSikorski, DavidCCA MarylandRegistered for: Coastal Conservation Association Maryland

UNFColden, AllisonChesapeake Bay FoundationRegistered for: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

UNFDietz, MichelleThe Nature ConservancyRegistered for: Nature Conservancy, The