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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: November 22, 2002
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

STATE'S SHARE OF FEDERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR
COMMERCIAL GROUNDFISHERMEN SLATED FOR DISCUSSION
Topic Will be Addressed at RI Marine Fisheries Council Meeting
Tuesday, November 26

PROVIDENCE - The use of Rhode Island's share of federal economic assistance available for groundfishermen will be discussed at the next meeting of the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council Tuesday, November 26. Rhode Island has been allocated $1.5 million of the $11 million appropriated by Congress in August to provide economic assistance for fishermen and fishing communities affected by restrictions in the New England groundfish fishery imposed earlier this year by federal court order.

The funds, according to the Congressional authorization, are being made available in recognition of the "extraordinary hardship faced by the fishing communities in New England due to the sudden and severe fishing restrictions in the region's groundfish fishery." The funds are for economic assistance and are to be provided via "direct payments to the most affected states, (and) for the states, in turn, to grant to fishermen and fishing communities as the states deem most appropriate."

At the Council meeting, a draft proposal by representatives of the state's commercial fishing industry to create a research trust will be presented as a suggested use of the state's allocation. The proposed research trust, an industry-led initiative, would encourage the use of new technologies and gear design in commercial fishing. Fishermen will be afforded the opportunity to comment on the industry's proposal and offer any other ideas they may have for utilizing the funds.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Corless Auditorium at the University of Rhode Island's Bay Campus on South Ferry Road in Narragansett.

A total of 138 Rhode Island vessels have a federal multi-species permit, and were directly affected by the court order. The Rhode Island groundfish industry lands about $16 million worth of product annually, and those landings generate about $64 million in total economic activity in the state every year. The Rhode Island groundfish industry employs approximately 700 fishermen.

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