From the Office of Senator Kerry

Tuesday, October 5, 1999

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators John F. Kerry (D-MA) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) today announced that the Agriculture Appropriations Conference report contains $15 million in funding that will be directed to groundfish fishermen hard hit by recent closures in the Gulf of Maine.

"We convinced Congress that our fishermen deserve this assistance just as much as mid-west farmers affected by drought," said Kerry. "This funding keeps fishermen on the water and engaged in critical research efforts. Massachusetts fishermen are still reeling from the impact of recent closures, and we will continue to look for ways to help fishing communities as we rebuild our fish stocks."

"This additional assistance will help ease the adverse economic impacts that fishery regulations have had on New England fishermen," said Senator Kennedy. "While the closures that came during peak earning periods for fishermen were devastating, the reduced trip limits since the fishery has been reopened have made it extremely difficult for these fishermen to earn a living."

These funds will pay fishermen to participate in research projects with the National Marine Fisheries Service, and will help offset economic losses caused by fishery closures and significantly reduced trip limits set earlier this year.

The funds will be administered by NMFS in consultation with the New England Management Fisheries Council and their research steering committee established in September. The funds will be distributed in fiscal year 2001, beginning on October 1, 2000.

Congressmen John Tierney, William Delahunt and Barney Frank have been strong supporters of the cooperative management program and have worked closely to develop the programs that this money will go to support.

Formal Senate approval of the conference report is expected today.