Last month the Marine Resources Committee of the Maine Legislature soundly rejected a bill I sponsored for the Portland Fish Exchange that would have allowed boats that drag for fish in Area 3 (about 50 miles offshore in Federal Waters) to land a limited number of lobsters that are caught up in their nets, a practice that is allowed in many other states, but banned in Maine. The Lobstering Industry was strongly opposed to changing Maine law and the committee was open to their assertions that harvesting these lobsters offshore would endanger the inshore lobster fishery at a time when the lobster industry is looking to reduce or stabilize the amount of effort applied to catching lobsters. While there are many arguments on both sides of the issue, at the nine-hour hearing held at the Augusta Civic Center due to the size of the crowd, it became crystal clear that there is a problem in the fishing industry driven by federal regulations and increased fuel costs. Boats are currently steaming to Massachusetts, a state that provides significant financial support to the fishing industry, unloading their fish and the lobster that are incidentally caught in the nets. That combination is enough more profitable for the boats so they are making the decision not to return to their home ports in Maine to unload. The consequence is that the Portland Fish Exchange and the fishing support infrastructure are at peril. At the hearing both draggers and lobstermen were in strong support of the fish exchange and its importance to the working waterfront and urged the committee to see what they could do in a Groundfish Assistance Plan to help support the fishermen in lieu of landing lobsters so they could afford to bring their boats and fish back to Maine. During subcommittee meetings, a plan was devised with several elements suggested by the groundfishermen and the fish exchange. The full Marine Resources committee will be considering those recommendations at a public hearing in the near future. I am working with the various members of the committee, The Fish Exchange (which historically lands 90% of the catch in Maine), the Maine Department of Marine Resources, and the office of the Governor to see what help I can offer to get this package in place and make some assistance available.
This plan will have significant consequences for Maine both economically as we reach out to support an industry on the verge of rebound, and historically as we work to maintain a vibrant working waterfront for the entire coast of Maine.
FMI: www.betterlobsterlaw.com
Currently on the desks of legislators is the bi-partisan bond issue bill that will go out to voters over the next two years. This was a unique process where the Appropriations Committee determined a series of needs for borrowing (in Maine according to the constitution if the state borrows more than $2 million, they must send it out to the voters). With great care and long hours of negotiation, the bill that was voted on April 4th will put these items out to the voters:
Bonds to Appear on the Ballot:
Bond Package Total: $295 million
June 2007: Total: $131.3 million
November 2007: Total: $134 million
June 2008: Total: $29.7 million
Education - $43.5 Million
Research and Development - $55 Million
Natural Resources - $35.5 Million
Environmental - $25 Million
Transportation (Highway and Bridge) - $110 million
Transportation (Other) - $26 Million
