The Working Waterfront Preservation Act, which Senator Collins authored, would authorize $50 million in federal grants for each fiscal year from 2005 to 2007. The grants, which would require a 25 percent local match, would assist organizations struggling to maintain commercial access to the waterfront by providing funds to help with the purchase of land and easements as well as for improvements to existing fishing infrastructure.
"Maine's fishermen are losing access to waterfront property. Only 25 of Maine's 3,500 miles of coastline are devoted to working waterfronts. There is no targeted, federal program to help the commercial fishing industry gain or preserve access to waterfront areas. At the same time, the pressures that drive the commercial fishing industry from these vital pieces of industry infrastructure are mounting," Senator Collins said. "I am committed to creating a federal mechanism to work in partnership with states, communities, and non-profit organizations to preserve our working waterfront. This new grant program would help preserve important commercial infrastructure for our fishermen."
Applications for grant would be reviewed by both the state maritime agency and the federal Department of Commerce to ensure the preservation of the most critical components of a state's fisheries infrastructure. Applications would be evaluated by economic significance to the industry, degree of community support, threat of property conversion, and consistency with local land use plans.
Senator Collins' legislation also proposes tax incentives in order to increase the incentive for participation. When a property or easement is purchased, the seller would only be taxed on half of the gain they receive from the sale. In addition, grant recipients would agree not to convert coastal properties to noncommercial uses.
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act is the governing authority for all fishery management activities that occur in federal waters with the United States 200 nautical mile limit. It requires the U.S. Congress to periodically reauthorize the Act to keep it current and to address new or persisting fishery management and conservation problems.
Senator Collins' legislation has received the support of numerous fisheries associations from across the United States including the Associated Fisheries of Maine, National Fisheries Institute, Maine Lobstermen's Association, and the Maine Fishermen's Cooperative Association.
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