[rj]

NOAA Awards Maryland $10 Million to Help Blue Crab Industry
Funds to be Used for Habitat Restoration and New Economic Opportunities



Annapolis, Md. (January 22, 2009) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service has awarded the State of Maryland $10 million in federal fishery disaster funding to help rescue Maryland's beleaguered Chesapeake Bay blue crab industry. Earlier this year, Governor Martin O'Malley worked closely with Maryland's Congressional Delegation to help secure a federal fisheries disaster declaration for the fishery and funding to mitigate the losses of the men and women the industry supports.

"We are grateful to NOAA for making these funds available and are especially appreciative of the concerted efforts of our Congressional Delegation - especially Senator Barbara Mikulski, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Representative C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger in making this critical funding possible," said Governor O'Malley. "The State of Maryland will invest this money in the essential habitat restoration projects and new economic opportunities that will help rebuild our blue crab population and ensure a stronger industry for the future."
The federal funding augments the $3 million in State capital funding set aside last year by Governor O'Malley and the members of the Maryland General Assembly to employ watermen and provide financial assistance to seafood businesses affected by the crab decline.
"Last May, I stood with Maryland's watermen and promised to stand up for them as they face a potential disaster to their way of life," said Senator Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee. "Now these funds will help soften the blow of years of shrinking crab harvests and provide opportunities to the watermen who have been affected by it. I will continue to lead Team Maryland in our efforts to protect the Bay and those whose livelihoods depend on it."

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) managers recently met with NOAA representatives to outline the State's plans to use the funds over the next three years. The plans include:

• Focusing on aquaculture and tourism to create new long-term economic opportunities and industry diversification. Funds will be made available for regional and onsite training and scholarships for aquaculture related college courses.
• Investing in new processing methods such as improved shell removal from crabmeat and innovative and safe packaging design to improve the economic viability and product quality of Maryland's crab processing industry.
• Supporting habitat restoration, blue crab monitoring and research, and regulatory enforcement.
• Hiring watermen to remove lost or abandoned crab pots from local waters that damage sensitive habitats, blue crabs and other fish.
• Engaging commercial crabbers in cooperative blue crab monitoring and research projects.
• Restructuring the fishery to provide longer term predictability and greater market stability for the regional industry. A voluntary reduction of commercial crabbers offers greater flexibility, predictability and security for full time watermen and a more stable and sustainable blue crab fishery.

This year, Governor O'Malley also plans to expand opportunity for prospective shellfish growers to establish aquaculture businesses in Maryland waters by establishing Aquaculture Enterprise Zones.
"The restoration of the blue crab population is not only critical to the Maryland crabbing industry, but also vital to the health of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem," stated Representative Hoyer. "My colleagues in the Maryland Congressional Delegation and I have worked hard with Governor O'Malley on efforts to restore the blue crab, and I am pleased to learn that Maryland will receive $10 million in funding for this purpose."
"The Maryland blue crab is such an important part of our state's culture and economy but the industry is facing tough times," said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Member of the House Appropriations Committee. "These funds will bring some much needed relief to Maryland watermen who depend on the industry for their livelihood. I applaud our team effort to get these funds quickly to the families and communities who need them.
The O'Malley-Brown Administration took historic action, in cooperation with Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine, to rebuild the Chesapeake Bay's beleaguered blue crab population by reducing the harvest of ecologically valuable female blue crabs by 34 percent in 2008. In September 2008, in response to a request from Governors O'Malley and Kaine, and advocacy by the Congressional Delegation, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service declared a federal fishery disaster for Chesapeake Bay watermen and women who have suffered economic hardships due to the extremely low and unstable blue crab abundance as well as the downturn in the national economy. Maryland currently has 5,931 licensed commercial crabbers.

Check out more Details of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Proposal for the NOAA Grant are available here.

8 pages of details. too much to copy & paste, but an interesting read---Change is coming!!

 

[flattyfrank]

Yeah, Rich, change is a-coming. I don't really like all of the proposals. For instance they propose 3.8 mil to be spent on license buy backs. This is the largest expenditure proposed. If a waterman can sell his unlimited tfl cb9 w/rockfish authorization for 12-15k, what makes them think that he will sell it back to the state for less? I don't like the reverse auction idea. I also don't like the thought of the state targeting the reduction of commercial watermen, while leaving the rec crabber virtually untouched.

Another thing I don't like is the oyster bar rehabilitation program. A little over 1.5 mil. Oh, this sounds great. Employing watermen to do something productive for the environment. The problem here lies with which watermen get employed. Same as the ones that got the work this winter with the state money. Oystermen, not crabbers. That money came from the state earmarked for commercial crabber assistance, but went to only those who had an oyster dredge. This federal money is destined to travel the same course. If you don't have an oyster dredge, you can't get boat work.

Enforcement. 550k to employ and train 2 crab enforcement officers? 2? for 550k? I'd like to have that job. My opinion here is that about a million of the license buy back money ought to be put here, and hire enough new enforcement to make a difference. Hiring 2 new officers is like pissing in the wind.

Ghost pot clean up. $799,800. I'm not sure that this is even worthy of a dime. Contrary to what many have been told, I know first hand how fast an unworked and unattended crab pot fouls and deteriorates. However, it appears that this is going to happen anyway, so why not do it right. I kind of like the idea of recovering wasted pieces of gear and putting it back into service. ie, rebar, plastic cull rings, plastic door hooks. And, cleaning junk (and that's what it is, junk) off the bottom is a worthy endeavor. Take some more money out of the buy back, say another 750k and some money from the oyster bar restoration, 500k and put it to the ghost pot cleanup. This is something that a crabber can do, without being an oysterman.

 

[redbeard]

reverse auction sounds like the state will set the price,no haggling i don;t know many who will sell like that unless the state forces the sale somhow and this worries me.

 

[lance644]

Enforcement. 550k to employ and train 2 crab enforcement officers? 2? for 550k!

This seems pretty far out of line. Are they adding in the price of a new boat too?
Lance

 

[BILL H]

reverse auction sounds like the state will set the price,no haggling i don;t know many who will sell like that unless the state forces the sale somhow and this worries me.

Doesn't the reverse auction work something like this? The state agrees to spend x$ total, buying back licenses to reduce latent effort. It will buy the cheapest offered licenses up to the x$ offered limit. Each seller can then determine how much (or little) value they put on their license. Seems like a very free-market approach to reducing latent crabbing effort.

 

[redbeard]

depends on what x$ is. the lic . would be worth more if and when stock improves. if you value your lic. and can afford to i'd keep it. my lic. makes me more than it cost me every year. i hope to retire within the next 15 years and thats more likley if i still have my lic. it would be wrong for the state to force me out because i'm partime now, thats my main worry. 15 years from now we'll be knee deep in crabs or they'll be gone,time will tell.

 

[Ken Brice]

Focusing on aquaculture and tourism to create new long-term economic opportunities and industry diversification. Funds will be made available for regional and onsite training and scholarships for aquaculture related college courses.
[*]Investing in new processing methods such as improved shell removal from crabmeat and innovative and safe packaging design to improve the economic viability and product quality of Maryland's crab processing industry.

I sure hope this helps the waterman and the crabs.. But can someone please explain, how the top two things can help the crab?? The first one, sure has lots of pretty words..:cool2:

 

[BILL H]

depends on what x$ is. the lic . would be worth more if and when stock improves. if you value your lic. and can afford to i'd keep it. my lic. makes me more than it cost me every year. i hope to retire within the next 15 years and thats more likley if i still have my lic. it would be wrong for the state to force me out because i'm partime now, thats my main worry. 15 years from now we'll be knee deep in crabs or they'll be gone,time will tell.

As I read it, it was proposed as a voluntary "reverse auction". I would think they would propose some sort of $ amount total (and buy up the cheapest offered licenses that add up to that total). That way, if someone values the license less than you, he could sell it, but you wouldn't have to sell. You'd only sell if they met your price (and nobody was selling cheaper) until the money ran out.

For all of us, I hope it's knee deep.

 

[flattyfrank]

I sure hope this helps the waterman and the crabs.. But can someone please explain, how the top two things can help the crab?? The first one, sure has lots of pretty words..:cool2:

Maybe they think watermen will give up working the water and become tour guides? I can see that happening.

 

[JimRockfish]

Yeah, Rich, change is a-coming. I don't really like all of the proposals. For instance they propose 3.8 mil to be spent on license buy backs. This is the largest expenditure proposed. If a waterman can sell his unlimited tfl cb9 w/rockfish authorization for 12-15k, what makes them think that he will sell it back to the state for less? I don't like the reverse auction idea. I also don't like the thought of the state targeting the reduction of commercial watermen, while leaving the rec crabber virtually untouched.

Another thing I don't like is the oyster bar rehabilitation program. A little over 1.5 mil. Oh, this sounds great. Employing watermen to do something productive for the environment. The problem here lies with which watermen get employed. Same as the ones that got the work this winter with the state money. Oystermen, not crabbers. That money came from the state earmarked for commercial crabber assistance, but went to only those who had an oyster dredge. This federal money is destined to travel the same course. If you don't have an oyster dredge, you can't get boat work.

Enforcement. 550k to employ and train 2 crab enforcement officers? 2? for 550k? I'd like to have that job. My opinion here is that about a million of the license buy back money ought to be put here, and hire enough new enforcement to make a difference. Hiring 2 new officers is like pissing in the wind.

Ghost pot clean up. $799,800. I'm not sure that this is even worthy of a dime. Contrary to what many have been told, I know first hand how fast an unworked and unattended crab pot fouls and deteriorates. However, it appears that this is going to happen anyway, so why not do it right. I kind of like the idea of recovering wasted pieces of gear and putting it back into service. ie, rebar, plastic cull rings, plastic door hooks. And, cleaning junk (and that's what it is, junk) off the bottom is a worthy endeavor. Take some more money out of the buy back, say another 750k and some money from the oyster bar restoration, 500k and put it to the ghost pot cleanup. This is something that a crabber can do, without being an oysterman.

Frank - Your analysis is impressive and your suggestions for changes make sense. Yes, what's up with 550k for two employees plus training? I read the full report and I am pleased that NOAA was willing to fund both state requests to the tune of 20 million dollars. We can debate the use of the money and you make some excellent observations. I have read about the successes of ghost pot cleanup in the Gulf but would not want to see money diverted to that effort from oyster bar restoration, quite the contrary. This is a major influx of funding for Blue Crabs and I'm optimistic that it will make a difference. Jim

 

[heimdall]

Frank - Your analysis is impressive and your suggestions for changes make sense. Yes, what's up with 550k for two employees plus training? I read the full report and I am pleased that NOAA was willing to fund both state requests to the tune of 20 million dollars. We can debate the use of the money and you make some excellent observations. I have read about the successes of ghost pot cleanup in the Gulf but would not want to see money diverted to that effort from oyster bar restoration, quite the contrary. This is a major influx of funding for Blue Crabs and I'm optimistic that it will make a difference. Jim

Don't be fooled about the success of the ghost pot clean up in the Gulf. Most were visible at low tide. That won't be the case here in the Chesapeake. Therefore the cost recovery per pot will be a lot higher.

 

[JimRockfish]

Don't be fooled about the success of the ghost pot clean up in the Gulf. Most were visible at low tide. That won't be the case here in the Chesapeake. Therefore the cost recovery per pot will be a lot higher.

I hear you. When will the funds for paying our watermen to do this be released? I would hope that some of the funding for that effort will be used to monitor performance. Will someone be keeping numbers, i.e. how many ghost pots each waterman turns in every day they are paid? I'm all for the program... interested in the management and recording process. I'm not doubting there is one. One aspect of the management process should include assigning zones to different boats, some type of training program and some way to share both lessons learned and techniques. Just like fisherman, some ghost pot removers will be more successful than others. What's the incentive for me as a waterman to pull 10 more pots today before heading in? Methods and procedures for accountability must be established. No new program will be perfect out of the gate and I'm sure some of these issues have been or will be addressed. The fact that the program was established is a major step forward. Jim

 

[flattyfrank]

Frank - Your analysis is impressive and your suggestions for changes make sense. Yes, what's up with 550k for two employees plus training? I read the full report and I am pleased that NOAA was willing to fund both state requests to the tune of 20 million dollars. We can debate the use of the money and you make some excellent observations. I have read about the successes of ghost pot cleanup in the Gulf but would not want to see money diverted to that effort from oyster bar restoration, quite the contrary. This is a major influx of funding for Blue Crabs and I'm optimistic that it will make a difference. Jim

Jim, I guess that I have a problem with ANY of the money appropriated for helping the CRAB problem being diverted to OYSTERS in any way. Now, I'm not against restoring oyster bars, but this money is being provided by the Feds for BLUE CRARB DIASTER RELIEF and should be used for that purpose. Rather than cleaning oyster bars, they maybe should be spending that money on SAVs, which would do much more to benefit crab habitat. if the Feds had wanted it to go to oysters, they would have issued it as oyster relief.

I had the same problem when the state appropriated 3 mil to put crabbers to work this winter. To aid crabbers, but guess what? only ones that got the boat work were those who had an OYSTER DREDGE. So the state crabber relief money went to oystermen. and the state proposes to do the same with 1.6 mil of the federal money. At least this time, they plan to allot some money to ghost pot recovery, which is something that crabbers can do, without being an oysterman.

As far as the 550 k for enforcement. I laugh at that. 2 officers added? what a joke, AND a waste of money. 2 officers can't put a dent in whats needed. Try adding 20, and maybe they could do something, but 2? come on man.

 

[heimdall]

I hear you. When will the funds for paying our watermen to do this be released? I would hope that some of the funding for that effort will be used to monitor performance. Will someone be keeping numbers, i.e. how many ghost pots each waterman turns in every day they are paid? I'm all for the program... interested in the management and recording process. I'm not doubting there is one. One aspect of the management process should include assigning zones to different boats, some type of training program and some way to share both lessons learned and techniques. Just like fisherman, some ghost pot removers will be more successful than others. What's the incentive for me as a waterman to pull 10 more pots today before heading in? Methods and procedures for accountability must be established. No new program will be perfect out of the gate and I'm sure some of these issues have been or will be addressed. The fact that the program was established is a major step forward. Jim

It would sure save everyone a lot of time and money, if the people who enjoy or just don't care, would stop running through pot lines. Cutting floats off or dragging pots, hurts everyone, not just the crabber.

There are only two ways to recover pots in the bay. Divers (very expensive to operate and dangerous) and dragging for them. Since it's been mentioned by DNR that a large dragging operation can harm the bottom, it will be very interesting to see what develops.

 

[OMAR]

Agree w/ Flatty

flattyfrank is a wise.......

 

[harvey52]

O'Malley's Budget gave up State's allocated "Bay Money"

:nono:The Gov., in a press conference, earlire this week (when he announced 700 layoffs) said that one of the additional ways to reduce the budget deficet was to take money from the allocated 3.5 M in Bay projects funds!
Here he is all -taking credit and congratulating the other politicans, and with the other hand, takes money out of the kitty! Two faced- *&% of a *^%$#!

 

[JimRockfish]

The US of A is in terrible financial condition and MD is a whole lot better off than most others. 700 is nothing (major to the 700 of course) compared to what is happening elsewhere. I think there were 70,000 corporate layoffs the past two days. You wouldn't want to have to manage this economy and make the decisions that must be made.

 

[crabfish]

There are so many redundant jobs at the state level, and even more so at the federal level, that they could probably cut 7000 jobs and not even make a dent in those just along for the ride and paycheck.

 

[JimRockfish]

There are so many redundant jobs at the state level, and even more so at the federal level, that they could probably cut 7000 jobs and not even make a dent in those just along for the ride and paycheck.

I work at the federal level and what I've lived for the past 8 years is a decrease in government employees and a huge increase in contractor employees. We pay the contract companies approx 2x the amount per employee that we pay a government employee with the same qualifications. In very many cases, the employees are former federal civilians that are now contract employees. Contrary to what many think, that is where your tax dollars are going. Hallliburton, Boeing, Lockheed, SAIC, CSC, Northrup Grumman and a zillion smaller fat cat PRIVATE companies.

 

[jazzconcert]

I work at the federal level and what I've lived for the past 8 years is a decrease in government employees and a huge increase in contractor employees. We pay the contract companies approx 2x the amount per employee that we pay a government employee with the same qualifications. In very many cases, the employees are former federal civilians that are now contract employees. Contrary to what many think, that is where your tax dollars are going. Hallliburton, Boeing, Lockheed, SAIC, CSC, Northrup Grumman and a zillion smaller fat cat PRIVATE companies.

Good point but isnt the government in the business of creating business?