Senator Collins' Reaction To Canadian Court Decision Affecting Maine Lobster Industry

            Washington, DC- Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today issued the following statement concerning news reports that a judge in Canada has granted a 10-day injunction to prevent lobstermen in New Brunswick from blocking shipments of Maine lobster to fish processing facilities: 

         "I have spoken several times this week with David Jacobson, our Ambassador to Canada, and my office has been in constant contact with officials at the State Department working to resolve this unacceptable situation," Senator Collins said. "While the news of an injunction is a positive development, I will continue to work with our officials at the State Department to press the Canadian government until a full resolution is reached.  Specifically, we must have assurances that our lobstermen will have full access to processing facilities throughout the region and after the ten day injunction is over.  I am hopeful that this injunction, combined with the scheduled Monday start of the New Brunswick fishery, will mean that normal lobster operations in Maine can quickly resume." 

         The 10-day injunction, ordered by Court of Queen's Bench Justice George Rideout, imposes a maximum of six picketers at each of the nine processing locations at any given time and mandates that they must be at least 200 feet from the entrance, exit, or property of the facilities.