SENATOR COLLINS PRESSES CHANGES TO GROUNDFISHING RULES

WASHINGTON, DC-- Senator Susan Collins has contacted the National Marine Fisheries Service to advocate for changes to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that will enable Maine's fishing industry to be more competitive with that of other New England states. In a letter to Patricia Kurkul, the Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Senator Collins outlined her support for several provisions of Framework 40B that will improve Amendment 13. Among the changes for which she is advocating, Senator Collins is calling for a minimum allocation of 10 Days-At-Sea, creation of a Special Access Program to benefit some of Maine's smaller vessels, and a credit for fishermen who assist in rescuing entangled whales. The changes for which Senator Collins is advocating, were approved by the New England Fishery Management Council, but must now be approved by NMFS.

In her letter to Ms. Kurkul, Senator Collins wrote, "Over 400 vessels in the entire New England fleet did not receive any A or B Days-At-Sea under Amendment 13. Maine was the hardest hit state, with over 30 percent of this fleet receiving no useable Days-At-Sea. The Minimum Effective Effort Allocation provision would provide those fishermen who were denied participation in this fishery with 10 B Days-At-Sea."

She further called on NMFS to approve the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area Rod/Reel Haddock Special Access Program, which would allow smaller vessels to fish in areas that currently may be unavailable to them. Senator Collins wrote, " The Service should also approve the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area Rod/Reel Haddock Special Access Program. The Service has expressed concerns regarding this provision's impact on Gulf of Maine cod. As you know, this provision contains a number of measures that would limit the impact of Gulf of Maine cod, including a limited season, a two-year duration, a cod Total Allowable Catch, and additional authority for the Regional Administrator. Given these limitations, this provision should be approved."

In addition, Senator Collins is requesting that NMFS approve a provision that would help protect the whale population by providing an incentive for fishermen to help entangled whales. "Given the Service's work in protecting large whales, a Days-At-Sea credit for standing by entangled whales is also appropriate," added Senator Collins in her letter.

"It is important that these changes are approved as proposed by the Council," she wrote.

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