In early July, Worcester County, Maryland, commissioners approved a proposed dredging project to improve navigability in the West Ocean City harbor channel. The project would benefit local fishermen and businesses alike. Officials shared that the harbor hasn’t been dredged since 2011. The channel is why commercial fishermen can operate out of West Ocean City, with the fishing industry being the economy’s backbone.
Director of Environmental Programs Robert Mitchell said the work is “desperately needed.” It is slated to begin at Pier 23 and continue down to Atlantic Tackle. The project will be funded by a $275,000 grant from the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, a regional planning and development agency for Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, and is said to coincide with other dredging projects in the area.
“We have two private entities doing the Fisherman’s Marina on the extreme west side of the harbor, and then there’s a small commercial harbor within this harbor that will be done as well,” stated Mitchell.
The private bids for the project were due on August 1, and now all officials need to do is pick a company. The Ocean City area is home to a number of longline fishermen who fish for tuna, swordfish, and other pelagic species. However, harvesters in the Ocean City area land over ten other species. Within the harbor, many commercial boats tie up along with seafood businesses. It is home to Martin Fish Company, Sea Born Seafood, a Tow Boat US facility, launch ramps, and a Coast Guard operation, making this project an overdue job.
“We are looking to dredge the entire commercial harbor,” shared Mitchell. “All the shoaling areas, the problem areas within the harbor.”
Regular harbor users told Coast TV, “There are some low spots in here, and it would help out, especially in the wintertime when the big boats come in with fish.” Locals hope the dredging plan will facilitate smoother boat navigation.
Rocco Ruppert of Sea Born Seafood shared with WBOC that he is happy the county recognized that the fishing industry is the backbone of their area. “Fishermen built this town, so you don’t want to let it die off and make it harder to do what they need to do to make a living,” shared Ruppert.
The country’s dredge work is to begin at some point after Oct. 15 and be finished by Feb. 2025.
