Editor’s Note: Cause of Action Executive Director Dan Epstein addressed Senator Ayotte’s press release by stating that “Cause of Action, on behalf of the fishermen we are representing in this matter, applaud Senator Ayotte, and thank her for her support. We appreciate any help we can get on educating the public about this unlawful regulation that would devastate the fishing industry and would put good, hard-working people out of work.”

WASHINGTON — December 10, 2015 — The following was released by the office of U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.):

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) today expressed support for New Hampshire fishermen who filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the legality of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) at-sea monitoring program:

“I support New Hampshire fishermen in their fight against NOAA’s at-sea monitoring fees. I continue to believe that NOAA should fully fund the at-sea monitoring program and Senator Shaheen and I have also called for a full investigation of the program. Going forward, I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure the survival of New Hampshire’s historic and iconic commercial fishing industry.”

In September, Ayotte introduced legislation to terminate NOAA’s independent third-party at-sea monitoring program for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery unless NOAA fully funds the program using funds within its existing budget. She also sent a letter, together with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), to the Department of Commerce Acting Inspector General David Smith calling for a full investigation into NOAA’s at-sea monitoring program for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery, which includes New Hampshire’s coastal region.

Also in September, Ayotte hosted a roundtable discussion with NOAA officials, New Hampshire fishermen, and business leaders at the Pease Tradeport in Portsmouth. She invited NOAA officials to New Hampshire to hear directly from fishermen and business leaders about concerns with fishing regulations, federal catch-share limits, NOAA’s process for determining fish stocks, the imposition of fees for “at-sea monitors” on commercial fishing vessels, and NOAA’s implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Ayotte is a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard.

Read the original release from the office of U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.)