Press Release: GrowSmart Maine testifies in favor of LD 61, “An Act Implementing a Fisheries Permit Banking Program”

PRESS RELEASE

February 10, 2011

GrowSmart Maine

309 Cumberland Avenue

Suite 202

Portland, ME 04101

207-699-4330

CONTACT: Kimberly Ballard

Testimony of Nancy Smith, Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine in favor of LD 61,

“An Act Implementing a Fisheries Permit Banking Program”

February 8, 2011

Senator Snow-Mello, Representative Weaver and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources. My name is Nancy Smith and I am the Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine. As many of you know from our previous interactions with the committee, GrowSmart Maine is a statewide non-profit membership-based organization working to grow Maine’s economy, protect its distinctive character, and enhance our state’s quality places.

As a part of our commitment to strengthening Maine’s economy, GrowSmart Maine is particularly enthusiastic about well grounded, thoughtful and creative proposals which seek to grow the economy in a sustainable manner while at the same time preserving our state’s unique character and quality of place. The proposal outlined in LD 61 to establish a permit bank of Federal fishing permits and to allow the Department of Marine Resources to lease fishing allocations to members of the Maine fishing industry both sustains local fisheries levels and maximizes the ability of Maine fisherman to land additional catch in allowable numbers. This common sense proposal represented by Senator Rector will sustain and grow Maine’s fishing heritage and coastal economy with no significant additional costs.

Thank you for the opportunity to present these remarks. Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding GrowSmart Maine’s enthusiastic support for LD 61.

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