SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS URGES COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE FISHERY MANAGEMENT & CONSERVATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that she is cosponsoring legislation, introduced by Senator Olympia Snowe, that would address recently identified failures in fishing data. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) reported last week that the research vessel used to gather data that applied to fishing rules, Albatross IV, relied on flawed sampling techniques in their data collection process.

"It is critical that we remedy any discrepancies in formulating fishing rules," said Senator Collins. "The hard working fishermen of our state stake their livelihoods in the ability to most efficiently utilize natural resources. I have fought alongside them to secure reasonable rules that can insure their financial survival, at the same time protecting the ecosystem. It is vital that we can trust the scientific data that we use to guide such an important industry."

This legislation would:

• Direct the National Academy of Sciences to review and recommend measures for improving NFMS' data quality procedures; and would establish a national cooperative research management program to be administered by NMFS.

• Authorize funding for the program from Fiscal Year 2003 to Fiscal Year 2007.

• Amends the Magnunson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to allow for a rebuilding schedule longer than 10 years if a rebuilding target is changed during the rebuilding period.