June 5, 2013 — Maine lawmakers moved closer Wednesday to approving a bill designed to help state groundfishermen increase their catch in federal waters.
The bill, L.D. 939, sponsored by Senate President Justin Alfond, D-Portland, would authorize a $3.5 million bond targeted to help fishermen land more fish by subsidizing the purchase of permits in the Groundfish Permit Bank. The proposal is one of two remaining this session designed to bolster the state’s dwindling groundfish industry. It has received unanimous support in the House and Senate.
If enacted the bond requires approval of Maine voters.
The state currently participates in the Groundfish Permit Bank. L.D. 939 would allow fishermen to purchase additional permits. Supporters say the bill would assist a groundfish industry that has experienced a sharp decline amid decreased federal catch quotas. Federal regulations are expected to lead to an approximately 70 percent decrease in quotas for cod and haddock and an estimated 50 percent decrease in sole and yellowtail flounder.
The Maine groundfish fleet comprised about 350 boats during the 1990s. There were about 70 boats in 2012. The catch has shrunk over the same period, from 44.8 million pounds worth $33 million during the 1990s to 6.6 million pounds worth $6.2 million in 2009.
Advocates of L.D. 939 say the ability to buy more permits will blunt the impact of decreased catch quotas.
A separate proposal, L.D. 1549, sponsored by Sen. Anne Haskell, D-Portland, will remove state-assessed penalties for Maine-based groundfishing trawlers that catch lobsters in federally regulated waters.
The proposal is designed to ensure that the state’s groundfishing fleet can keep the lobsters that come up in trawl nets and sell them in states that allow such lobsters to be landed.
Read the full story at the Kennebec Journal