Mikulski, Cardin, O'Malley Announce Fight to Provide Relief For Maryland Watermen

Press Release

Mikulski, Cardin, O'Malley Announce Fight to Provide Relief For Maryland Watermen

Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-Md.) today joined Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley to announce that the State will seek a disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Chesapeake Bay blue crab. A declaration will make Maryland's watermen eligible for emergency disaster funding to ease the economic burden placed on the crabbing industry as it faces a 34 percent reduction in the female crab harvest. The Team Maryland representatives met this morning with Captain Larry Simns, President of the Maryland Watermen's Association, to discuss the new federal-state effort.

Governor O' Malley's request, which was sent to Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and is provided below, notes that preliminary economic impacts on watermen, harvesters and the processing industry are estimated at $15 million over the next three years. Funds would be used to provide alternative economic opportunities for watermen and the processing industry, while state regulators work with the industry to rebuild stocks and restructure the fishery. Governor O'Malley, working with legislative leaders in the recently completed session of the General Assembly, set aside $3 million in state capital funding to provide funds to employ watermen in restoring key Bay habitats, including rebuilding oyster reefs, grants to assist in the start up of aquaculture businesses, and grants to assist crab processing companies.

Senators Mikulski and Cardin, on the Senate Appropriations and Budget Committees respectively, will fight to put funding for the disaster assistance in the federal checkbook. If the Commerce Secretary approves the request, the industry will also become eligible for additional federal help through Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants, Small Business Administration (SBA) and Farm Credit System loans and Department of Labor worker training programs.

"Maryland's watermen are facing a very real disaster in the face of an already stressed economic market. It is time for us to team up to put the resources of the federal government behind the needs of our State," said Senator Mikulski. "As Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Department of Commerce, I will not only urge the Secretary to declare a disaster, but immediately work to provide funding in the upcoming emergency supplemental spending bill to help our struggling industry."

"Blue crabs are an essential part of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and watermen are an essential part of Chesapeake Bay culture and economy," said Senator Cardin. "We need to restore health to both of these critical parts of the Bay."

"Our most valuable commercial fishery is in danger of an economic collapse. The blue crab supports one of the last major commercial fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay and provides the economic foundation for many small Bayside communities," said Governor O'Malley. "If we are to save Maryland's blue crab population, we must act now. But we must also ensure that the livelihood of our State's watermen continues to be sustained. In order to help mitigate the economic hardships expected to affect our State's watermen, we are respectfully requesting that the Federal Commerce Secretary declare a commercial fishery failure and fisheries resource disaster."

Governor O'Malley has worked closely with Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine in taking steps to rebuild crab populations. Governor Kaine will be sending a letter today seeking similar relief for watermen in Virginia.

"Governor Kaine and I are committed to working together to restore both crab populations and the industries they support," said Governor O'Malley. "And through this action will continue to work together and with our watermen and blue crab industries to help them move toward a stronger and more sustainable future."

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source