GREGG AND SHAHEEN ANNOUNCE $825,000 FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE FISHERMEN AND LOBSTERMEN SIGNED INTO LAW

(Washington, D.C.)-U.S. Senators Judd Gregg and Jeanne Shaheen today announced that they have secured $825,000 to help New Hampshire commercial fishermen and lobstermen comply with federal regulations and stay competitive. President Obama has signed the funding into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which passed the Senate late last week.  

"New Hampshire's local fisheries contribute to the Seacoast economy and greatly need this financial assistance to help them remain competitive and ensure long-term vitality as they continue to face rigorous harvest restrictions.  This funding will provide some much needed relief for our fishing industry in this difficult economy, and we will continue exploring other ways to help our lobstermen and fishermen," said Gregg and Shaheen in a joint statement.

The New Hampshire Commercial Fishermen Sustainability Initiative will allow the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department to provide assistance to the 300 commercial fishermen and lobstermen that have been impacted by recent federal fisheries regulations, such as a rule that requires replacement of all floating groundlines with sinking groundlines to prevent entanglement with whales. These costly modifications to fishing gear have put Granite State fishermen at a competitive disadvantage with others in the Gulf of Maine during already difficult times.