Pols declare fisheries disaster
Maine's congressional delegation has joined Gov. John Baldacci in calling for a federal disaster declaration for Maine's shellfish industry, which was hit hard by red tide outbreaks during the past year.
Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree sent a letter yesterday to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke requesting a federal declaration of a fisheries disaster and monetary assistance for the shellfish industry because of extensive red tide outbreaks. "Last spring and summer, the shellfish industry in Maine experienced a severe economic crisis as a result of the closure of 97% of the state's shellfish beds and 100% of the offshore beds in federal waters," the letter says. "The closure of these shellfish beds ... was justified in the interest of maintaining public safety, but could not have come at a worse time for Mainers dependent on the shellfish resource." The shellfish industry includes approximately 3,000 harvesters and dealers and has an annual economic impact of $50 million, according to the letter.
The delegation's letter supports Gov. Baldacci's formal request earlier this month for federal assistance for the shellfish industry under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The letter notes that Maine's shellfish has been impacted "far more drastically" than in 2005 and 2008 when the industry received disaster declarations and federal assistance.
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