WASHINGTON (January 14, 2009) – In response to proposed regulations issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that would effectively reduce the average number of days-at-sea for groundfishermen from 48 per year to 20 per year for 2009, U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard released the following statement:
“Regrettably, onerous federal regulations have long plagued the groundfishing industry in New England . Now, this proposal to slash the remaining days-at-sea by more than half would decimate the fishery, particularly here in Maine . It is absolutely absurd to expect any fisherman to afford to operate at sea for only 20 days out of the year.
“As Ranking Member of the Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee, I am appalled and profoundly troubled that the agency would even consider the draconian measures contained in this proposed regulation, much less actually present them as a viable solution to the current crisis in the groundfishing industry. Read Senator Snowe’s statement in full at her official website