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Harris Announces Second Wave of Nanticoke River Research Funding

June 2, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced the award of $269,925 in federal research funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the Maryland and Delaware Departments of Natural Resources. Specifically, funding was awarded as part of a three-year, $838,350 grant to the two states for conducting research in the Nanticoke River, which supports a newly discovered yet potentially critically endangered population of Atlantic sturgeon.

Congressman Harris made the following statement:

"I thank the Administration for awarding these funds. Previously, I've had serious concerns about declaring the entire Chesapeake Bay region a ‘critical habitat' for sturgeon because of how burdensome it could be - stifling commercial activity for our watermen and hampering other critical conservation efforts like the restoration of native oysters. Instead, I believe this is the right approach – conducting multi-year research to understand spawning run size and the overall population in the river, which will allow other important activities to continue. I believe we can protect both vulnerable species and our local jobs. Our watermen and the Eastern Shore economy need protection too."

Issues:Environment