WASHINGTON — September 14, 2012 — The U.S. Department of Commerce declared a disaster for New England's struggling groundfishing fleet for the 2013 season, opening the door for Congress to appropriate up to $100 million to help fishermen.
The declaration follows recent studies that find stocks of cod and other species are not recovering as quickly as expected despite the industry's compliance with strict catch limitations. Gov. Paul LePage requested the disaster declaration last November.
"I've been in the business over 30 years, and this is the worst I have ever seen it," said fisherman Tom Casamassa of Saco, one of the few Mainers still fishing for cod, haddock, flounder and other groundfish. Maine is home to just 45 boats in the groundfish fleet, as others have switched to lobster and other species.
"Talking to other fishermen, they are shaking their heads and don't know what to do. … We're really glad they moved ahead with the disaster declaration. From the sound of it, New England is really going to need it," Casamassa said Thursday.
Cod fishing was once the economic backbone of much of New England, including Maine; but overfishing and other factors have depleted cod stocks, resulting in austere catch limits on the relatively few groundfish boats still operating. Now the fleet faces additional reductions of up to 70 percent in the amount of cod and other species they can land.
Many now fear that this once-robust fishery — often credited with helping build New England and Colonial America — is in jeopardy of disappearing. Maine is home to just 45 boats with federal permits, as most fishermen have switched to lobster and other species.
Like many of his colleagues, Casamassa has been forced to branch out into other fisheries such as shrimp, lobster and even dogfish — a kind of "trash fish," to some — in order to survive. While he used to catch groundfish relatively close to shore, Casamassa now describes water down to 50 fathoms — or 300 feet deep — as "a desert."
"The future challenges facing the men and women in this industry and the shore-based businesses that support them are daunting, and we want to do everything we can to help them through these difficult times," Rebecca Blank, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, said in a statement.
A statement by U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and U.S. Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree says they're encouraged by the disaster declaration, which acknowledges that Maine's fishermen are facing new and unprecedented challenges. The delegation's statement says the declaration is a first step in a long effort to rebuild one of the nation's first industries.
This is not the first Maine fishery to be granted disaster status, nor is it uncommon nationwide.
In 2010, for instance, shellfish harvesters in Maine were eligible for federal disaster assistance after the Commerce Department, which oversees NOAA, declared that the 2009 outbreak of red tide created a commercial fishing failure. Two other fisheries — salmon in Alaska and oysters and crabs in Mississippi — also were declared disasters on Thursday.
Numerous fishermen's organizations, including the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association that Casamassa belongs to, applauded the declaration.
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