The federal government released $2.2-million of the $10-million blue crab disaster funds to help Maryland’s crab industry. Reports indicate the first of the money will be used to hire more Natural Resources Police officers, start a program to buy back waterman’s licenses and train watermen to do other jobs. A $20-million fishery disaster was declared last fall after the governors of Maryland and Virginia lobbied due to declining crab populations and near record-low harvests. The federal money is being split between the states, but plans for Virginia’s share have not yet been approved.