seeks less catch restrictions Otto hears watermen's concerns 2011
PRINCESS ANNE -- Somerset County watermen say Maryland should relax its crab catch restrictions for 2011, putting the state in line with size limits in Virginia.
Five watermen met with Delegate-elect Charles Otto, R-38A-Somerset, on Saturday in Princess Anne to discuss that matter. The group -- men who have been fishing the waters off Somerset's coast for decades -- also contend that the governor's aquaculture program will hurt watermen by taking away some of the best oyster bars.
Danny Webster, a multigenerational waterman from Deal Island, said last winter's dredge survey showed a 60 percent population increase in blue crabs, the second straight year with a substantial jump.
Given the surging crab numbers, Maryland watermen should get a break from at least one regulation, Webster said. He said the state should allow watermen to catch crabs that are a fourth of an inch smaller year-round.
Last year, Maryland watermen had from April 1-July 15 to harvest hard-shell crabs at 5 inches width and peeler crabs at 3 1/4 inch, before their minimum size bumped up a quarter inch.
In Virginia, watermen can catch hard-shell crabs at 5 inches year-round.
"The state is talking jobs, jobs, jobs, and here they're cutting the waterman out," Webster said.
Otto, who will serve on the Environmental Matters committee, will take over the seat held by the late Delegate D. Page Elmore. Otto has vowed to look out for the watermen, much like his predecessor did.
The five waterman began Saturday's discussion -- which was held in a back room at the Washington Hotel restaurant -- by stating their dismay for the governor's aquaculture plan. The plan ropes off 24 percent of existing habitat as oyster sanctuaries and establishes a process for leasing that land for the development of aquaculture projects.
The state Department of Natural Resources said that since September, 23 people have applied for 33 lease areas consisting of 2,100 acres.
Eddie Brimer, a Westover waterman, said that 40 years ago, there were aquaculture projects on the Manokin and Wicomico Rivers, but disease wiped out the project.
He said an initial investment for an acre, under the sanctuary program, is about $15,000.
"If this were such a good idea and such an easier way to make money, don't you think we'd already be doing it?" Brimer said.Read More ...
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