Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, urged Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Apr. 22 to collaborate with Maine’s lobster industry as federal agencies consider new regulations and technologies for lobster fishing. The exchange took place during a hearing reviewing the Department of Commerce’s budget request for fiscal year 2027.
The discussion is significant because upcoming changes to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) rules could affect the livelihoods of lobstermen in Maine and New Hampshire. The current moratorium on new NOAA regulations impacting the American Lobster Fishery expires in 2028, raising concerns about future regulatory actions and their impact on local communities.
Collins asked Lutnick for his commitment that any future rulemaking would involve direct input from the lobster sector and regional lawmakers. She said, “I’m asking today for your commitment to ensure that the Department will work with the lobster sector. They are the best stewards imaginable, and also with me and the rest of the Maine and New Hampshire delegation, to ensure that future regulatory actions will fully incorporate the most current population data for Right Whales, real-time monitoring technologies, and region-specific risk assessments, rather than relying on outdated assumptions that may no longer reflect the actual Right Whale distribution, or fishing patterns.”
Lutnick responded by saying he hoped “to be considered the greatest friend of the lobstermen,” emphasizing his support: “We promise you that we will use the best data and most precise data to make sure our decisions are right for America … We should not be using outdated data; we should use the best data.”
Collins also questioned Lutnick about NOAA’s push toward ropeless gear technology—a solution she said was expensive and challenging for small boat operators—and called for investment in alternative risk reduction methods. Lutnick replied: “That is an easy commitment for us. We will never pick just one winner … There needs to be economically reasonable ways to be better.”
In addition, Collins raised concerns over a proposal in President Biden’s budget request to eliminate funding for Economic Development Administration (EDA), which she described as critical support for small businesses in rural Maine.
The Senate Appropriations Committee plays a key role in overseeing federal expenditures as mandated by law according to its official website. It manages legislation related to federal funding, conducts hearings like this one on spending proposals according to its official website, has influenced budgets involving trade issues according to its official website, draws authority from constitutional requirements according to its official website, has included past chairmen such as Lot Morrill of Maine according to its official website, and produces major appropriations bills including those affecting homeland security according to its official website.
As Congress approaches decisions regarding both fisheries management policies and economic development programs affecting rural communities like those in Maine, further hearings are expected.
