CABBING NEWS

[STRO]

By David Fahrenthold
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 2, 2008; 1:02 PM

Maryland Officials said today that they will seek to have the Chesapeake Bay declared a "fisheries resource disaster" area, so that federal money can be funneled to waterman affected by new restrictions on harvesting crabs.

At a news conference on Baltimore's Fells Point Waterfront, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and the state's two U.S. senators said the declaration could bring in up to $15 million in federal funds to go with $3 million from the state. O'Malley has formally requested the money in a letter to the secretary of commerce.

The officials said the funding was needed to keep watermen financially afloat this year. Both Maryland and Virginia officials have said they want to reduce the harvest of female crabs by 34 percent, to rebuild a population that has dropped sharply in the past two decades.

"We want to save our crabs, save our watermen and save our Maryland way of life," said Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md). Mikulski did not provide details about how the money would be distributed. "When we get the money we'll explain to you how it will work," Mikulski said. 

[Shootzie]

I got an idea on how to raise the money. Raise gas tax another .25 a gallon.

[Crab Shack]

I thought this was about taxi cabs at first...

[crabberjon]

I got an idea on how to raise the money. Raise gas tax another .25 a gallon.

Omalley is that you?

[horsefly]

Omalley is that you?

Brain fart idea I guess. I hope what they do is offer low interest SBA or other loans to help the crabbers and businesses affected. They did that down here after a rash of hurricanes. I still think if they can get that crab growing program underway for the comms interested in it, it would be a good pay off monetary and fishery wise.

[R D]

The SBA LOANS ARE NOT FOR PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED THEM,you have to already have plenty of money for them to give you any,lots of paperwork and BS.They told us after hurricane Dennis that while we had a good gross income our net income wasn't enough for a loan mostly because I paid for new pots,cooler,half down on my truck and paid my boat off 1 1/2 years early and doubled the size of our operation,in other words invested back in the business.We have went through the federal disaster money too,one time there was 19 million to help replace gear for 3 different events, NOT A WATERMAN EVER SAW A DIME,the state used it up in different adminstration costs spread out over about 6 different agencys,again a lot of paper work and time for nothing.

[horsefly]

The SBA LOANS ARE NOT FOR PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED THEM,you have to already have plenty of money for them to give you any,lots of paperwork and BS.They told us after hurricane Dennis that while we had a good gross income our net income wasn't enough for a loan mostly because I paid for new pots,cooler,half down on my truck and paid my boat off 1 1/2 years early and doubled the size of our operation,in other words invested back in the business.We have went through the federal disaster money too,one time there was 19 million to help replace gear for 3 different events, NOT A WATERMAN EVER SAW A DIME,the state used it up in different adminstration costs spread out over about 6 different agencys,again a lot of paper work and time for nothing.

RD, I agree with ya 100% I didn't say it would be easy or a free handout. Matter of fact, when they had that federal disaster stuff here after Hurricane Floyd, by the time the monies got split up, very little was left for the comm guys. Some said it was only enough to replace 1/4 of their pots or other gear. You are right the SBA loan thing is for established businesses and not for folks trying to start one, as you must have the money or collateral in place for the loan.
RD,  what would be your view or proposal for the relief fund for those guys, seriously??? I mean as in programs or money.

[R D]

To start with I would give the ones who wanted to a rockfish endorsement and put them to work fishing or flounder netting,open up some of the closed rivers to potting and some of them will go to catching jimmys,they have proved that getting rid of pots didn't make more jimmys in those rivers and tributarys no more that the huge amount of restrictions these guys have had to bear over the last 10 years have helped make more crabs,you could shut down the entire take of females up there and not have more crabs but these guys are the easiest to point the finger at and do something about.

[Seanile]

NOT A WATERMAN EVER SAW A DIME,the state used it up in different adminstration costs spread out over about 6 different agencys,again a lot of paper work and time for nothing.

It's a bureaucratic system that is set up for failure (from the end user standpoint) from the git-go.  Unless, of course, you have friends in high places.   

[Crab A Lot]

It's a bureaucratic system that is set up for failure (from the end user standpoint) from the git-go.  Unless, of course, you have friends in high places.   

     First off the Federal monies are per say the tax payers money ( the people's ) :laugh:and if the monies were handle by a private industry,and distributed to the right people in this case the watermen,that company would be liable to the Federal Government to see it was done right.

I feel a system like above would work much better than the system we have now,no greasing any ones hand.

[case140]

maybe the watermen needs to raise their prices they get from the middle guy, catch less crabs make more money.do like any other bussness doing pass the cost on.

[frankwyte4]

what would that mean to the fishery? nothing is free.  Then the feds will get some say as to what goes on over here???

[horsefly]

watermen raise the price??? What they are gonna hold out and go on strike? Prices are dictated by supply and demand....as everything else including the gas you put into your car/truck. Right now, prices of crab to the waterman are high(for now). In someone elses world, yes it would be nice to help the fishery and catch two boxes of the bulls, for about $400.00, it would be less hassle of toting extra boxes etc and having to lift them. But........everyone needs crabs
BTW Frank, I am with ya on that, how would it help the fishery, and no you don't want the Feds messing or getting their hands into much anything else.

[CrabDog]

Wow they are trying to get some federal money... must be an election year huh?

Well not for them.. but M O"Malley approval rating is so low I think he would sell his sould the devil to bring it back up...besides, wouldn't a disaster area be something like what happened after Hurricane Katrina.. and we saw what the federal govt did there...Of course the local and state govt did little to nothing except point fingers at each other and the feds.  I wish him luck on getting federal funding for this one when this is a local / regional issue.  Do you think folks in the mid west or rockies care about the crabs in MD or VA.  They will get little or no money, get turned down, and then MO'M will blame George W and the rest of the feds and say he tried and they let him down and then he will raise taxes on something to pay for the 15 milion since he has already promised it ...  Wow see if that is what happens...  and when it does
I won't say I told ya so.. then again.... yes I will....


......Cdog

[R D]

It''s called a "fisheries disaster" and can be declared because of a natural disaster or man made that is beyond the control of fisheries managers such as water quality or pollution.

[CrabDog]

It''s called a "fisheries disaster" and can be declared because of a natural disaster or man made that is beyond the control of fisheries managers such as water quality or pollution.

thanks RD,  figures you would have the answer! 

..Cdog