Hurricane Irene brought destruction to the mid-Atlantic region, but it also had a positive impact on the Chesapeake Bay, stirring the waters and allowing oxygen into the vast dead zone that stretches from Baltimore to Virginia.
The fruit of a third of the work done by state agencies, organizations and fisheries to restore the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay is being stolen through illegal harvesting, according to biologists who research oyster beds in the bay.
A bill that would have imposed a two-year moratorium on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation while an environmental impact study was completed stalled in the Senate this legislative session after easily passing the House.
Gov. Martin O'Malley's key piece of green legislation this session was effectively killed for the year after being held for study in the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday.
Mike Vlahovich is a master wooden boat restorer who has worked on the same skipjack for more than four years. Skipjacks are the state boat of Maryland and have dwindled down to a remaining fleet of about 30.
Gov. Martin O'Malley rallied about 40 supporters of offshore wind energy on Wednesday, urging them to join him in one last chant that they hope will reach the ears of key committee legislators in Annapolis - "Pass the Bill!"
Legislation to create a temporary moratorium on natural gas drilling in Western Maryland's Marcellus Shale deposits appears poised for passage in the House of Delegates.
This year's fishing season has seen the largest rockfish poaching bust in more than 20 years. Officers found nearly 13 tons of illegally caught fish over the next few weeks, sometimes working 18-hour days to haul in nets.
ANNAPOLIS -- A Maryland delegate intends to file a bill Monday that would add up to two years of jail time to a list of penalties for first-time rockfish poachers.
A bill that would essentially impose a hold on natural gas drilling in Western Maryland until further studies are completed will be introduced Thursday in the House of Delegates.
Gill net fishing season was closed for the month and multiple agencies are offering a reward for information leading to arrests after a 10-ton rockfish poaching bust earlier this week.
KENT ISLAND -- Maryland Natural Resources Police found nearly seven tons of poached rockfish in illegally anchored fishing nets on the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay Tuesday night and Wednesday, bringing the total this week to 10 tons of rockfish, authorities said.
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