For Immediate Release: August 2, 2022
Contact: Ben Martens, 207-619-1755; ben@mainecoastfishermen.org
SENATE COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND SCIENCE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE SEEKS TO FULLY FUND THE YOUNG FISHERMEN’S DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR FY23
Last week the Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC) applauded the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee for allocating $2,000,000 in funding to the Young Fishermen’s Development Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). The FCC thanks Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for their strong support within their roles on the Senate Appropriations Committee. We also thank Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) for leading the FY23 Senate request, along with fellow champions Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King (I-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).
According to Ben Martens, Executive Director of FCC member Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, "A fully funded Young Fishermen's Development Program means that we can give the next generation of fishermen in places like Maine the tools they need to continue to feed our communities fresh, healthy, delicious seafood and keep our working waterfronts working."
The Young Fishermen’s Development Program is a top priority for the FCC, who first proposed the idea in 2015. Since its inception, the FCC has worked diligently alongside our congressional champions to build support for the program and its authorizing legislation, The Young Fishermen’s Development Act, which was enacted on January 5, 2021 (P.L. 116-289).
“We are thrilled to see the Young Fishermen’s Development Program fully funded in the Senate FY23 CJS budget and deeply appreciate the leadership of Alaska’s delegation on this issue,” said Linda Behnken, Executive Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, an FCC member. “Our young fishermen face ever growing challenges with a changing climate and a rapidly evolving industry. Fully funding this vital program will support their success.”
The Young Fishermen’s Development Program is a workforce development grant program to educate, train, and mentor young and beginning commercial fishermen. This program is a first-of-its-kind national program, following in the footsteps of numerous successful regional-level efforts, many of which were spearheaded by FCC member organizations.
According to Eric Brazer, Deputy Director of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance, “The Gulf of Mexico is associated with some of the U.S.’s favorite seafood – from your Mississippi shrimp to your Florida grouper and snapper. We’ve worked hard to provide job security for our commercial fishing businesses and food security for our coastal communities, and we’re excited to see the Senate prioritize a path forward to support the next generation of commercial fishermen leaders.”
This news follows action last month by the House CJS Appropriations Subcommittee, which also included funding for the program in the FY23 CJS report. As Congress stands poised to break for August recess, the FCC looks forward to working with House and Senate champions and appropriators this fall to ensure this important, timely program is fully funded for FY23. Doing so will better ensure the U.S.’s economically, historically, and culturally important commercial fishing industry prospers for generations to come.
"This is the first of many important steps needed to ensure that upcoming generations can maintain direct access to the means of production in coastal food systems,” said Marissa Wilson, Executive Director of the Alaska Marine Conservation Council, an FCC member. “Small-boat harvest of wild fish is an important tradition with values richer than money. Investing in this lifeway is vital to the wellness of communities along and inland of the nation's 95,000 miles of coastline."