Bill to Support Maine’s Lobster Industry Clears Appropriations Committee
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced significant funding and key language to support Maine’s lobster industry in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“This funding would support Maine’s lobster industry by improving the incomplete and imprecise science and research upon which the federal government relies. The flawed and incomplete data being used to inform regulations has created unnecessary, burdensome requirements for Maine lobstermen and women,” said Senator Collins. “As the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Funding and legislative language advanced by Senator Collins:
North Atlantic Right Whale: $30 million for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for Right Whale related research and monitoring.
- Language is also included directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to work with Canada to develop risk reduction measures that are comparable in effectiveness to U.S. measures.
National Sea Grant College Program: $82 million for the National Sea Grant College Program.
American Lobster Research: $2 million for Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank American lobster research through Maine Sea Grant. The bill also includes report language that directs this research to be carried out through a partnership of state agencies, academia, and industry with a focus on “stock resilience in the face of environmental changes” and “topics necessary to respond to newly implemented or future modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan.”
Fishery Surveys and Stock Assessments: $221 million for NOAA fishery data collection including stock assessments, fishery statistics, surveys and cooperative research. This bill also includes $4 million for a fisheries survey contingencies fund and provides $3 million in new funding for an industry-based multispecies bottom trawl survey in the Northeast region to complement the Henry. B. Bigelow’s survey work.
Gray Zone: Report language directing NOAA to work with Canadian and state fisheries officials to develop a cooperative fisheries management plan in the Gray Zone.
In addition, Senator Collins advanced nearly $61 million for Congressionally Directed Spending projects in Maine through the CJS Appropriations bill. Of these projects, $1 million is included to expand the American Lobster Settlement Index collector survey at the University of Maine.
This funding and language advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2025 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.
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