November 8, 2021 โ Senators Susan Collins and Angus King Maineโs say the stateโs lobster industry will be strengthened with more than $650,000 in grant funding.
The money comes from NOAAโs Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative.
Itโs to support the long-term health and resiliency of Maineโs lobster industry.
September 8, 2021 โ Continuing efforts to help restore Atlantic salmon populations in Maine are receiving a boost thanks to $900,000 in funding awarded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced Tuesday that four organizations in Maine have been selected to receive money from the distribution to assist their efforts.
โAtlantic salmon are a critical part of our stateโs marine ecosystem, but they are endangered and at risk of extinction,โ Collins and King said in a joint statement. โThese fish help to ensure the health of our rivers and oceans that Mainers and wildlife depend on. We welcome this funding, which will help to conserve and restore wild Atlantic salmon and their ecosystems across the state.โ
The Atlantic salmon, specifically the Gulf of Maine distinct population that has been protected since 2000 under the Endangered Species Act, is one of the most at-risk endangered species, NOAA reported. Only approximately 1,200 fish return each year, although as of Aug. 30 only 522 salmon have been counted so far this year at the Milford and Orono dams.
Read the full story at the Bangor Daily News
August 31, 2021 โ Maineโs legislative delegation in Washingtonโฏisโฏurging federal officials to ensure thatโฏtheโฏforthcoming North Atlantic right whale regulations donโt include anyโฏlast-minuteโฏchanges that would hurt the livelihood of Maineโs fishing communities withoutโฏproviding anyโฏmeaningful protections forโฏthe whales.โฏโฏ
โWe are now asking for your assistance to avoid hasty, late-breaking changes by (National Marine Fisheries Service) to measures that have been extensively negotiated and carefully designed in consultation with Maineโs Department of Marine Resources and broad outreach to stakeholders,โ legislators Susan Collins, Angus King, Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden wrote in a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. โThese changes, as indicated by the Final Environmental Impact Statement, add significant costs to the industry without corresponding gains in conservation and seriously undermine conservation partnerships at state and local levels.โโฏ
With finalization of rules on the lobster and other trap fisheries in response to declining right whale populations expected imminently, the delegation outlined three areas of concern.โฏโฏ
The proposed rule includes a requirement for Maine fishing gear to have a green marker if a specific piece of gear was set inside or outside a certain boundary. This would help determine the origin of gear should it become entangled with a whale.โฏ
August 31, 2021 โ Maineโs congressional delegation is urging the federal government not to approve new rules that would negatively impact the stateโs commercial fishing industry as they finalize protections for endangered whales.
In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, the lawmakers wrote that they have a number of concerns about the National Marine Fisheries Serviceโs proposed regulations and the planโs โability to meaningfully protect whales and its impact on those who depend on fishing, especially lobstering, for their livelihoods.โ
The lawmakers, which included Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, asked regulators to illuminate several โhasty, late-breaking changesโ to the final whale protection rules.
August 26, 2021 โ Maineโs congressional delegation called on U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to reject a petition to impose seasonal and dynamic closures on parts of the stateโs lobster fishery.
The Pew Charitable Trusts submitted a petition to close four areas of lobster fishing in Maine unless lobstermen used so-called โropelessโ fishing gear.
โThe petition submitted by Pew undermines our shared goal of both protecting the North Atlantic right whale and ensuring the future viability of our nationโs lobster fishery,โ wrote Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) and Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jared Golden (D-Maine). โUnfortunately, this proposal would have a detrimental economic impact on Maineโs lobster industry and the coastal communities they support, while providing limited risk reduction. It is unfortunate to see this attempted circumvention of NOAAโs established regulatory process when lives, livelihoods, and the survival of an endangered species are on the line.โ
Pew petitioned former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in 2020 to call for closures throughout New England waters, including an area Downeast from August to October, to better protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Last month, the organization submitted an updated petition for rulemaking, arguing that action was needed to save the species, which has dipped down to an estimated population of fewer than 356.
August 25, 2021 โ A set of new rules to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale is on the way to being finalized by the federal government.
But the rules include โhasty, late-breaking changesโ that would โsignificantly harm the livelihoods of communities that depend on fishing and lobstering without meaningfully protecting whales,โ U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, and U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 1st District, and Jared Golden, D-Maine 2nd District, said in a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
The National Marine Fisheries Serviceโs Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan was first developed in 1997 and has been modified in various ways since then, in an attempt to save the endangered whales from extinction.
The delegation cited several of the newer proposed modifications, now under consideration, as potentially harmful for the lobster industry.
August 24, 2021 โ The following was released by The Office of Senator Susan Collins (R-ME):
U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden have sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, urging her to ensure that the National Marine Fisheries Serviceโs Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Rule does not include last minute changes that would significantly harm the livelihoods of communities that depend on fishing and lobstering without meaningfully protecting whales. In their letter, the Maine Delegation emphasize that many measures have been crafted after years of negotiation and careful consultation with Maineโs Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to protect the coastal Maine communities that rely on the lobster fishery. The Delegation specifically cites potential changes to regulations on gear marking, closures of valuable fishing areas, and enforcing dangerous one-size-fits-all approaches on gear configurations as risks that could endanger livelihoods and safety for Maineโs lobstering communities.
โWe are getting in touch with you once again about the National Marine Fisheries Serviceโs (NMFSโs) Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Rule (RIN: 0648-BJ09), the finalization of which we understand to be imminent,โ wrote the Delegation. โWe are grateful for your previous engagement with us over our concerns about this new regulationโs ability to meaningfully protect whales and its impact on those who depend on fishing, especially lobstering, for their livelihoods. We are now asking for your assistance to avoid hasty, late-breaking changes by NMFS to measures that have been extensively negotiated and carefully designed in consultation with Maineโs Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and broad outreach to stakeholders. These changes, as indicated by the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), add significant costs to the industry without corresponding gains in conservation and seriously undermine conservation partnerships at state and local levels.
โAs you know, this rule builds on over two decades of collaborative whale conservation efforts and is the specific product of massive stakeholder input and data analysis in recent months and years,โ the Delegation continued. โDespite this long timeline and vast effort, we and many of our constituents are deeply concerned about three specific elements of the rule, which we have outlined below. We have also shared these views with Shalanda Young, Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and we urge you to direct NMFS staff to engage with their counterparts at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) to ensure this opportunity for good public policy making and consideration of informed public comment is not squandered in the midnight hour.โ
The Maine Delegation has been steadfastly opposed to undue burdens that would threaten the lobster fishery โ an important economic driver for Maine โ without meaningfully protecting whales. The Delegation has urged President Joe Biden to act on his pledge to protect lobstermenโs livelihoods, citing the lack of data to support claims that the lobster fishery presents an extreme risk to whales compared to other marine activities such as ship strikes.
The Maine Delegationโs full letter can be downloaded HERE.
August 24, 2021 โ Maineโs congressional delegation called on U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to reject a petition to impose seasonal and dynamic closures on parts of the stateโs lobster fishery.โฏโฏ
The Pew Charitable Trusts submitted a petition to closeโฏfourโฏareas of lobster fishing in Maine unless lobstermen used so-called โropelessโ fishing gear.โฏโฏ
โThe petition submitted by Pew undermines our shared goal of both protecting the North Atlantic right whale and ensuring the future viability of our nationโs lobster fishery,โ wrote Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) and Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jared Golden (D-Maine). โUnfortunately, this proposal would have a detrimental economic impact on Maineโs lobster industry and the coastal communities they support, while providing limited risk reduction. It is unfortunate to see this attempted circumvention of NOAAโs established regulatory process when lives, livelihoods, and the survival of an endangered species are on the line.โโฏโฏ
Pew petitioned former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in 2020 to call for closures throughout New England waters, including an areaโฏDowneastโฏfrom August to October, to better protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale.โฏโฏ
August 19, 2021 โ While the U.S. Department of Agriculture has increased its seafood buying in response to the pandemic and directives from Congress, none of the agencyโs COVID-related seafood purchases have been awarded to suppliers based in Maine.
Maineโs congressional delegation called out the agency on Tuesday in hopes of drawing attention to product harvested by the stateโs small-scale independent fishermen.
โUSDA efforts to engage these smaller producers will pay large dividends โ supporting and maintaining economic activity in rural areas, and helping develop consumersโ tastes for seafood that is sustainable, affordable, and harvested close to their homes,โ U.S. Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, and U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 1st District, and Jared Golden, D-Maine 2nd District, wrote in a joint letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.
The letter urged the Biden administration to work with small-boat family fishing businesses to fully explore opportunities for Maine seafood products in USDAโs procurement efforts, according to a news release.
April 19, 2021 โ The Economic Development Administration has awarded the Gulf of Maine Research Institute nearly $750,000 to help connect small businesses and entrepreneurs with leaders in the seafood industry to create digital platforms to promote growth, job creation and resiliency.โฏ
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced the award on Monday that will establish the instituteโs Gulf of Maine Blue Innovation Recovery program.โฏ
โMaineโs working waterfront is central to the livelihoods of families, communities, and small businesses throughout our state,โ the senators said in a statement.โฏ โWe welcome this investment in the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, which will help our seafood industry weather the coronavirus pandemic through innovative technology.โ
The seafood industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, with restaurants closed, trade disrupted and new safety protocols put in place.โฏ
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