WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's ChoiceMD watermen to pull more ghost pots from bay

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland's ghost pot retrieval program starts again next month. State officials say watermen have until Friday to apply for work under the program.

Ghost pots are lost or abandoned crab traps that can kill crabs and fish that get caught in them. They are being collected under a federally funded program launched in 2010 to help watermen hurt by the decline of the blue crab fishery.

Areas targeted this year include the North East River, Fairlee Creek, West River, Rhode River, South River, Severn River, Magothy River, Patapsco River, Patuxent River, Upper Tangier sound, Lower Hooper Island and the Big and Little Annemessex Rivers at Smith Island.

Natural Resources officials say $1 million is available this year, and they are focusing on helping watermen affected by last year's wet weather.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)