Blue crab Disaster Relief Money

[jefftoleft]

Just thought you would like to read this  http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/news.aspx?articleid=16510&zoneid=2

[jack1747]

It would be intersting to see what she has done... I don't follow the news there. So what has she done?

"In 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. My promises made are promises kept. This announcement is great news for Maryland. This is about lives and livelihoods in a struggling economy," said Senator Mikulski. "I will continue to lead Team Maryland in our efforts to protect the Bay and those whose livelihoods depend on it." 

[marysue1227]

It would be intersting to see what she has done... I don't follow the news there. So what has she done?

"In 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. My promises made are promises kept. This announcement is great news for Maryland. This is about lives and livelihoods in a struggling economy," said Senator Mikulski. "I will continue to lead Team Maryland in our efforts to protect the Bay and those whose livelihoods depend on it." 

Jack,
I can almost guarantee you that all she did was stand with the watermen. She doesn't do much else but take up space and talk.

[ItalianMule]

God I hate that woman. My old boss told me one day "I only hate two women in this world, Mikulski and that bitch we have answering the phones." My boss was 76 at the time, a war Vet and built a business from the ground up, he's one of the smartest people I've ever met in my life.

[reds]

I've only voted for her one time in all the years she has been in office. Over all I don't like her. That being said, she did help get the monies that will be used to put the waterman to work and help with the short fall in their income because of the crab harvest reduction.

[horsefly]

until you "see" the money dont start jumping up and down. Remember that money has to pass thru too many hands before it would get to you. Personally it's a good idea, but it's only a bandaid fix to the whole fishery over all. It's like bribing the commercial gus to keep them off politcians back for a few months. The broad picture, would be to use some of that money for cleaning the bay and rivers, help with restocking of juvenile crabs, fish, oysters etc. I would like to see blocking future building projects along most coastals areas, so maybe using some of that money for funding to do that would be a good idea? I think they(politicians and other gov officials) think watermen can just get jobs elsewhere like they grow on trees.  So, if this is the case, and the comms are willing, send them to school(if need be). Cover the tuition and book cost plus a monthly check.  But anyway it's JMHO

[jack1747]

From what I've heard from Tangiers is nobody has seen a cent.  I would be willing to wager that we will be crabbing again before they do.

[Mr. Breeze]

From what I've heard from Tangiers is nobody has seen a cent.  I would be willing to wager that we will be crabbing again before they do.

That's right, Jack.  No federal money yet.  just the state allotted 3 mil, which is being doled out to crabbers who also happen to be oystermen.  If a crabber isn't equiped with an oyster dredge, he can't get any of the state money.  Don't know what will be required for the fed money

[Tom Powers]

It was announced at a crab meeting a few weeks ago that VA is dipping into the waterways improvement fund to provide work for the 53 former crab dredge fishermen who would have been eligible this year. 

They will be issued side scan sonars and working with VIMS to remove ghost crab pots from all over the bay.  The numbers that were thrown out were something like $300 a day plus a fuel allowance.  There would be a limited number of days allowed to each person.  Basically, it will mean that they will be able to set idle on blow days without fear of loosing all of their eligible days. 

The intent is to pay back the waterways fund once the federal money makes it down here. 

[jack1747]

I knew the Dredgers were getting something but didn't know where it was coming from.. Thanks

[Mr. Breeze]

It was announced at a crab meeting a few weeks ago that VA is dipping into the waterways improvement fund to provide work for the 53 former crab dredge fishermen who would have been eligible this year. 

They will issued side scan sonarsbe  and working with VIMS to remove ghost crab pots from all over the bay.  The numbers that were thrown out were something like $300 a day plus a fuel allowance.  There would be a limited number of days allowed to each person.  Basically, it will mean that they will be able to set idle on blow days without fear of loosing all of their eligible days. 

The intent is to pay back the waterways fund once the federal money makes it down here. 

Do they get to keep the side scan sonars?  Do they get to keep any pots that they recover?

[Tom Powers]

Jack,

I doubt it

and

I don't know.  For that matter I don't know if they would want to.

[kevin g]

What i have heard is the sonars go to VMRC when the project is done.Not sure about the pots.The only thing from the pot this time of year that would be left unless they are plastic pots would be the frames.I also heard VIMMS got $400,000 of the money to study how to catch the pots!!!!

[dredgecrab]

As a former dredger I can tell you we have side onar and are finding ghost pots.  The Hummingbird 1197 is the electonics of choice.  Works well.  We caught eight today.  An easy days pay compared to dredging.  I would still rather be catching those crabs up.  What I see in the oyster dreges upriver looks like a lot of crabs.  About the ghost pots...I removed two fish in hibernation that sank like rocks to the bottom when I took them out.  All the pots caught today were so old they didn't even have cull rings.  I appreciate the available work but fail to see the logic.