Excerpt from an email sent by

John M.R. Bull

Director of Public Relations

Virginia Marine Resources Commission

“Steve Bowman and I wanted to give a head’s up: Gov. Kaine just this morning formally requested that the federal government declare the blue crab fishery a disaster, thus making the watermen eligible for economic disaster relief.

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce would decide whether to issue such a disaster declaration. There is no telling on a time frame. If that happens, a congressional appropriation of unknown quantity of money would be up for a vote.

Maryland today will ask for the same disaster designation for their crab fishery.”

This is good news. My hopes are that this is the first step in recognizing that it is not just the blue crab that is in a state of disaster but the Chesapeake Bay as well.

I have a big wish list and one of those wishes is that the Federal and State will use the waterman and his knowledge in restoring the Bay. This is a win, win for all.