(May 12, 2008) On May 7, we incorrectly reported that the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will fund $75 million for Commercial Fishery
Disaster Assistance, part of which may be used to provide funding to ease the economic burden placed on the Chesapeake Bay crabbing industry (See:
Feds Provide $75M In Emergency Funding For Crabbing, Fishing Industries).
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked to include the referenced $75 million as part of the emergency supplemental spending package. An Appropriations Committee vote on the Senate bill is scheduled for Thursday, May 15.
According to a NOAA spokeswoman today, the request for a disaster declaration for Maryland's crabbing industry from Governor Martin O'Malley to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez has not yet been approved and no formal date for a decision has been announced.