Posted on August 7, 2023
Senator Mary Beth Carozza is renewing calls for dredging at the Ocean City inlet after reports of shoaling that she believes threatens commercial fishing interests in the area.
Senator Carozza says she is partnering with Congressman Andy Harris to call for the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the channel at the Ocean City inlet, something that was part of a comprehensive dredging plan that was scrapped.
She tells 47ABC that with the White Marlin Open set to start next week, it’s important that the waters off the coast of Ocean City be hospitable to fisherman.
She tells us that dredging, while necessary, is only one part of what needs to be a more long-term fix.
“We’re having to do it more and more frequently, and we need an alternative long-term solution to make sure that we can keep that Ocean City Inlet Channel open, which is so critical to our commercial fishing industry and to the White Marlin Open and recreational boating and our overall economy down here,” Senator Carozza said.
She tells us the local fishing industry is an economic driver for the area and protecting them is one of her top priorities.
