U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard, and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship today announced she will join with Governor John Baldacci and work to find an employer within the seafood processing industry to take over the Stinson Sardine Cannery in Prospect Harbor, or partner with Bumble Bee to keep the facility up and running with its current number of employees.
Senator Snowe will meet with Bumble Bee CEO, Chris Lischewski in a one-on-one meeting next Tuesday, March 2nd to discuss potential partners.
"If we allow the last American sardine cannery to follow the rest of the industry–in Maine and throughout the Nation–and become part of our history instead of a contributor to our economy, it will represent a major blow to one of the hardest hit corners of our state," said Senator Snowe. "I intend to do everything in my power to save these jobs and keep this working waterfront facility operational. In my meeting with Mr. Lischewski next week, I hope to convince him that there is ample opportunity for seafood processing in Maine, and to gain his commitment to work with me and the Governor's office to explore all possibilities for the future of this historic plant."