$440,000 for UMaine Ocean Habitat Strategic Plan Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $440,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the University of Maine (UMaine) to develop a North Atlantic Right Whale Habitat Characterization Plan in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“The lobster industry is a vital part of Maine’s economy and heritage, sustaining jobs and strengthening our coastal communities,” said Senator Collins. “Unfortunately, regulatory efforts to protect North Atlantic Right Whale are compromised by incomplete data available on whale movement patterns. UMaine’s North Atlantic Right Whale Habitat Characterization Plan would help fill these gaps, benefiting both the Maine lobster fishery and right whale conservation efforts. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
“We are grateful to Maine stakeholders for helping us develop this inclusive proposal, and to Senator Collins for advancing our important request for federal funding,” said University of Maine Agatha B. Darling Associate Professor of Oceanography Damian Brady. “We look forward to partnering with the Maine lobster industry and State officials to develop a strategic plan for mapping, modeling, and monitoring North Atlantic Right Whales in the Gulf of Maine so together, we can better ensure the long-term viability of the lobster fishery for its vital ecological and economic benefits.”
In partnership with the Maine lobster fishery and State of Maine officials, funding for this project would support UMaine’s efforts to develop an inclusive roadmap for how the University can help with characterizing habitat for North Atlantic Right Whales. This may include passive acoustic monitoring, prey mapping, and oceanographic observing.
This funding advanced through the markup of the FY24 CJS appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate. Committee consideration of legislation is a key part of regular order, which helps our government function efficiently and deliver results for the people of Maine and America.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $500 million for hundreds of Maine projects for FY2022 and FY2023. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
