Shaheen Praises Release of Additional New England Fishery Disaster Funding

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) praised the release of an additional $1,044,351 in funding to support struggling New Hampshire fisherman and fishing communities. These funds released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will provide financial assistance to the commercial groundfishing industry and for-hire fishing vessels. These funds are in addition to the more than $2 million in fishery disaster funds that have been released to New Hampshire in the last two years.

“The funds announced today will provide an important lifeline to New Hampshire’s fishing industry which continues to struggle under onerous federal catch limits and regulations,” said Shaheen. “New Hampshire’s fishing industry is an important part of the seacoast region’s economy and I will continue to work with NOAA and New Hampshire officials to maintain the industry’s viability.”

Shaheen was a leader in the bipartisan effort to secure $75 million in disaster relief resources last year for affected fishing communities in several regions of the country, including $32.8 million in federal fishery disaster funds for New England. In addition to fighting for federal funds to support New Hampshire’s fishing industry, Shaheen is pushing back against plans by NOAA to shift burdensome new fees to cover the costs of the agency’s at-sea observer program on to New Hampshire fishermen.