Susan Collins: “all along our Nation's coasts are harbors that were once full of the sights, sounds, and smells that accompany the…”

“all along our Nation's coasts are harbors that were once full of the sights, sounds, and smells that accompany the fishing industry. Unfortunately, a number of factors are converging to lead to the loss of our Nation's vital fishing infrastructure, which is essential for the continuance of the commercial fishing industry. I have drafted legislation that will help to combat the loss of commercial access to our waterfronts and to support the fishing industry's role in our maritime heritage. In July, I was contacted by Andy Hawke of Boothbay Harbor, ME, a lobsterman who explained that the local lobstermen's cooperative had recently come up for sale. Unfortunately, the local fishermen could not come up with the resources to purchase the cooperative's facilities, and they were looking for Federal assistance in order to keep this coastal property accessible to the commercial fishing industry. Their goal was to keep the cooperative in operation for the lobstermen of Boothbay Harbor and the ``upcoming youth who will be in the lobster industry.'' There was little assistance that I could offer beyond identifying some grant programs that might apply. I discovered quickly that 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.…”