The Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today that effective 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, February 23, 2005 the daily catch limit of 500 pounds per licensee for the commercial striped bass drift gill net season has been rescinded and replaced with a total allowable weekly catch limit of 1,500 pounds per licensee. Striped bass must be checked in not later than 9:00 p.m. the day of harvest and all other current regulations remain in effect.

Without these modifications, Fisheries Service projects that the striped bass gill net quota will be prematurely harvested.