From the Office of Senator Kerry

Friday, October 10, 2003

Washington, DC - Senator John F. Kerry and Congressman John Tierney today announced a $50,000 Department of Commerce grant to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries in Boston, Massachusetts. The funding will enable commercial lobster sea sampling in the southern gulf of Maine. The sampling will strive to be done at least twice a month in Exclusive Economic Zones, which extend up to 200 miles from the U.S. Coastline, such as the Lobster Conservation Management Area including Stellwagen Bank. The data collected will include physical characteristics such as length and shell condition as well as any abnormalities or additional data. The number of trap hauls, set-over-days trap and bait type will also be recorded. "We need to be sure that the lobster industry remains a viable source of income for our Massachusetts fishermen, and doing so means ensuring the safety of the lobster population," said Senator Kerry, Ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee's Sub-Committee on Oceans, Fisheries, and the Environment. "I'm happy to announce this funding will allow the Division of Marine Fisheries to collect the necessary data to ensure that the lobster population in Massachusetts never falls to a level from which it cannot return." ""Many families in my district and throughout Massachusetts rely on the ocean to make a living therefore, it is critical that we take every step to ensure that the lobster industry remains a vital part of the economy for years to come. Funding from this grant will be used to record information from Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and will ensure the data precisely reflects the lobster population in Massachusetts and help maintain this resource," said Tierney. These funds are appropriated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Department of Commerce.