April 30, 2015 — U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-Mass., has joined with U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, R-N.H., to file a bill that would release all of the available money for fisheries research collected under the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act, a total of $100 million.
Congressman Bill Keating (D- MA)
The money is collected in the form of a duty on foreign-sourced fish entering the country, which imports around 90 percent of the fish consumed here.
But historically Congress and NOAA Fisheries have released far less than the total amount in the form of research grants. In the 2014-2015 fiscal year, for example, $18 million was made available. The Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act would make far more available.
This budget cycle’s grant proposal period ended in December and decisions by NOAA are expected at the start of June.
Keating in a release said that his legislation would ensure existing funds go directly toward research, monitoring and management of the fisheries while incorporating input from stakeholders in the fishing industry and academia who best know the resource.
Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times