ORTLAND, Maine - A federal plan to help New England fishermen suffering from declining fish populations and fisheries closures in the Gulf of Maine has elicited mixed reactions in Maine.
Vice President Al Gore announced the $5 million in aid during a visit to Boston on Thursday. The money is supposed to help fishermen coping with dwindling fish populations and fisheries closures in the Gulf of Maine. In return, fishermen must agree to work with scientists researching the health of the fish stocks.
The $5 million disaster assistance package for New England fishermen has been under development in New England since last year. Gore said it has been approved formally by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Saco fishing boat owner Craig Pendleton was happy to hear the aid finally would be released, but he said it is late and is not enough to help everyone.
Though fishermen and scientists often butt heads over fishing issues, Pendleton said the scientific partnership could help the struggling industry survive.
''Nobody wanted a welfare program,'' he said.
The announcement pleased Senator Olympia Snowe, a Republican from Maine.
''This assistance will help them weather these difficult times, as fishing grounds are closed to permit recovery of threatened species,'' she said.
Some praised the assistance as a constructive first step, although most New England fishermen will not qualify for it.
Others criticized the plan, saying it fails to solve long-term problems. They also were cynical about the offer of help from Gore, who is running for the Democratic nomination for president.
''You don't hear anything from Gore for seven years and all of a sudden he wants to help,'' said Tom Simpson, a crew member of a groundfishing boat based in Portland.
''What they ought to do is give all the money to a shelter. They're the ones that want the handout, you know what I'm saying? We just want to fish, that's all,'' Simpson said.
Under the aid plan, the owners and crews of about 300 of the 750 active groundfishing vessels in the Gulf of Maine will receive an average of $15,000 for lost working days during fishing ground closures last spring. Those that worked by traveling around closed areas will not qualify.
''If the government is serious about fixing this problem, they need to come up with a much more comprehensive program,'' said Maggie Raymond, a fishing boat owner from Berwick who would not qualify for aid.
The aid does not help fishermen who still will be faced with continuing restrictions as too many boats go after too few fish, she said.
''It doesn't make any sense to give a guy $6,000 or $10,000 and prop him up for six months,'' she said.
