CONCORD, N.H. — May 28, 2014 — Fifty Maine groundfishermen will each receive $32,500 under an agreement for distributing $32.8 million in federal disaster funds in New England and New York.
The region’s groundfishing season last year was declared a disaster by the U.S. Commerce Department after research in 2012 showed that cod, haddock and flounder stocks were not rebuilding despite catch limits. Regulators then imposed more stringent catch limits.
In addition to the $1.6 million in total direct payments to Maine fishermen, the state will receive $636,000 to help the groundfish industry, according to the agreement announced Wednesday between six states and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Maine Department of Marine Resources will hold a public meeting on June 18 in Portland to discuss how to spend that money.
Permit holders qualify for relief if they have caught at least 5,000 pounds of fish in one of the past four years. In all, 336 permit holders in New England and New York qualify.
Read the full story from the Portland Press Herald