OCEAN CITY -- Watermen in Maryland may soon have a new catch on their hands: shrimp. A shrimping pilot program is underway in Ocean City, allowing several vessels to catch, harvest, and sell the crustaceans.
Shrimp, typically found further south, have seen a rise in population off the Ocean City coast due to rising ocean temperatures. The program follows a similar shrimping pilot in Virginia Beach, which proved successful.
Senator Mary Beth Carozza, who introduced the legislation last year, was motivated to act after hearing about the possibility from Ocean City waterman Sonny Gwin.
"You find out from the watermen, who make the investment, who make the time and effort to come on the front end."
Carozza says allowing experienced commercial watermen to to take the lead can lead to a new booming Maryland product - and allow them to adapt to any technical issues that may present themselves.
“If you do the pilot program right, we will have an expansive shrimp fishery in the state of Maryland." said Carozza.
Watermen like Kerry Harrington, who operates Seaborn Seafood in Ocean City, says he's confident the program will be a success. Harrington says he looks forward to possibly rigging up one of his boats in the future, and having an extra resource.
"Right now, I know there’s plenty of shrimp in the bay, all in the different guts and creeks that go off the main bay. You can go up, throw a cast net, and catch several; we’ve even caught them in the harbor."
Boats involved in the program must install and adhere to specific rigs designed to protect other aquatic life.
Watermen are expected to start casting nets by the end of the month.