Maryland seafood faces ‘potential fatal blow’ with fewer visas. Will pressure bring relief?

Gov. Larry Hogan and Comptroller Peter Franchot have once again joined forces to call for an increase in H-2B visas as the peak of seafood processing season beckons. Hogan underscored the importance of addressing labor shortages and the economic impact of the industry to the region amid rising demand in a Feb. 15 letter to the Maryland Congressional Delegation. “These temporary workers have long represented an important and long-valued part of our workforce,” Hogan wrote. “They are even more critical now given the acute labor shortages and critical role the seafood industry plays in Maryland communities, especially those on the Eastern Shore.”