WASHINGTON, D.C. –  U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard, sent an open letter to the Maine fishing industry reaffirming her commitment to achieve the stability and predictability the community requires for long-term economic success. The fishing industry members sent a letter on November 14, 2011, requesting help in getting Congress to focus its effort to enhance operational issues with the new fisheries management system.

In her letter, Senator Snowe said:

“The diversity of ports, vessels and sectors represented on this letter reflects the importance of your request.  I want you to know that I clearly understand that you write neither in support of, nor in opposition to, catch shares.  You have asked for a focused effort from Congress on the operational issues that must be addressed for your businesses to survive, and I am committed to working with you to achieve the stability and predictability your businesses will require for long term economic sustainability.”

BACKGROUND: In July 2011, Senator Snowe led New England's Senators in calling for common-sense fishery management adjustments to the sector-based management system.  In the letter to Eric Schwaab, NOAA's Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, Snowe and a bipartisan group of Senators proposed several adjustments to the 15-month-old management plan to help the region's fishermen achieve greater predictability in their business and harvesting practices.

The letter asserted, "Effective fisheries management rests on reliable processes that promote stability for both fishing businesses and managers. Consistent with national fisheries policy, these adjustments will provide significant benefits both to fishermen and for the resource, and help the New England groundfish fishery move further down the path to a sustainable ecological and economic future."

Read the complete letter from Senator Snowe