YORKTOWN (AP) -- Virginia watermen are creating their own advocacy group to fight for protection of the Chesapeake Bay and to give them a bigger voice in government rulemaking.

Hampton waterman Peter Freeman says if watermen don't help themselves, they're out of business.

The new advocacy group is called the Virginia State Watermen's Association. It was unanimously approved Thursday by about two dozen watermen who met at the Watermen's Museum, along with Tangier Island watermen who voted via cell phones.

About 3,000 watermen work in Virginia.

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