Sen. King Announces More Than $32 Million in Federal Disaster Assistance for Maine, Northeast Groundfishing Industry

Press Release

U.S. Senator Angus King announced today that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will award $32.8 million in federal funding for the mitigation of the New England Multispecies Groundfish Fishery disaster declared by the Secretary of Commerce and that the 25-percent state match requirement will be waived, as Senators King and Collins had requested in a letter earlier this month. The funding will help assist struggling fishermen across New England, including in Maine.

"I am pleased that NOAA will deliver economic assistance to Maine's fishermen who have struggled in recent years to cope with burdensome federal regulations and nearly-exhausted fish stocks. I also welcome Secretary Pritzker's announcement that she will waive the state match requirement, which posed a serious obstacle to providing this much-needed relief," Senator King said. "Fishing is not only a cornerstone of Maine's economy, but it's vital to supporting the livelihoods of many Mainers. I look forward to working with the Maine Department of Marine Resources to see that Maine receives its share of the federal assistance as we strive to achieve a healthy and sustainable groundfishery."

In September 2012, the U.S. Commerce Department declared a disaster in the Northeast groundfishing industry, which opened the door for Congress to appropriate funding to help alleviate the financial hardship caused by dwindling fish stock. In January, with Senator King's support, Congress approved the Fiscal Year 2014 federal funding bill that appropriated $75 million for the mitigation of fishery disasters around the country.

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