Congressman Harris Urges NOAA to Declare Economic Fishery Disaster

MARYLAND – United States Representative Andy Harris sent a letter on Wednesday to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), requesting that the agency declare an economic fishery disaster. 

Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, declaring a economic fishery disaster would authorize federal emergency relief for fisheries affected. Congressman Harris sent the letter in response to outreach from members of Maryland’s Eastern Shore delegation requesting federal assistance, as local watermen face mounting economic strain driven by various factors. 

“Severe weather this year, combined with shrinking market access and increased competition, left many crews effectively tied to the dock, with watermen able to fish for just one or two days all season,” said Congressman Harris. “These pressures threaten both livelihoods and a major sector of the Eastern Shore economy. For that reason, I am urging NOAA to approve a federal disaster declaration because immediate disaster relief is necessary to help watermen recover from the financial losses caused by this season.”

To read the full letter, click here.