Virginia watermen and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation are asking Washington to approve emergency funding to help the struggling crab industry.

Virginia Waterman's Association president Ken Smith is among those who've signed a joint letter sent Monday to U.S. senators. In it, several groups urge immediate assistance to keep the industry afloat.

Faced with near record low crab populations, Virginia and Maryland plan to reduce the female crab harvest by 34 percent.

Watermen worry that will cut into their livelihood.

Virginia and Maryland senators already are working to include emergency money for distressed fisheries nationally in a supplemental war appropriations bill now before Congress.