Congressman Harris to Take Questions from the Media After Ocean City Meeting with Watermen to Discuss Proposed 10-Knot Speed Rule Change
WASHINGTON, DC: In a meeting this Thursday in Ocean City, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (R-MD) will meet with local commercial fishing and boating industries who have expressed their urgent concerns about NOAA’s proposed North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule. The National Marine Fisheries Service, a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is proposing a federal rule that would expand the current 10 knot speed restrictions on boats 65 feet and longer to include all boats 35 feet and longer. The rule would also expand the speed restriction zone from just discrete Right Whale calving areas to the entire East Coast from Massachusetts to Florida. Implementation of the rule would cause major economic harm to the boating and fishing industry, costing Maryland coastal cities like Ocean City tens of millions of dollars in revenue should it be forced to cancel one of the East Coast’s largest billfish tournaments. This rule would also have a devastating economic impact to the local economies especially at a time when towns and small businesses are still recovering from the economic losses of the Pandemic. On Thursday, October 20th, Congressman Andy Harris will meet with local watermen and leaders to address this issue. Journalists interested in asking questions after the event can RSVP to Anna.A@mail.house.gov
What: Congressman Andy Harris to take questions from media after meeting with watermen addressing NOAA 10 Knot speed restriction proposed rule change.
When: Thursday, October 20th @ 2:15pm
Where: Sunset Grille; 12933 Sunset Ave, Ocean City, MD 21842
For media inquiries, please contact Congressman Harris’ Washington, DC office at 202-225-5311, or contact Anna Adamian