Guest Worker Visa Shortage Threatens Local Seafood Industry
![](https://delmarvafisheries.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/jake-Brooks-by-Mike-Detmer.jpg)
Photo by Mike Detmer
Feb 25th, The Star Democrat
CAMBRIDGE — Speakers at a meeting Thursday in southern Dorchester County highlighted the extreme need for more H2B visas for local crab picking houses.
The meeting was attended by local, state and federal officials, and members of the seafood and related industries, and multiple speakers made clear and plaintive statements about the crisis created by the current shortfall.
Of the 136,000 guest worker visas applied for, 33,000 were made available in the current allocation by the Department of Homeland Security. The visas are allocated through a lottery, and this year only one of the 10 Maryland seafood processors who requested workers received enough visas to operate.