Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (MCCF) will be receiving a total of $469,658 over a three year period, through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research Cooperative Agreement and Training Project Grant Program. The funding will go toward expanding safety training and injury prevention programs for the next generation of New England fishermen and women. “The MCCF plays a pivotal role in bridging the gaps between fishermen and women, scientific insights, and effective policy-making,” said Senator Collins. “This investment will help keep our young fishermen and women safe while also protecting the sustainability of our fisheries.”
The MCCF is a non-profit organization that works to secure a safe fishing future for the communities of Eastern Maine and beyond. To that end, the organization has launched a comprehensive three-year plan aimed at enhancing safety measures in Maine fisheries. Under this plan, the MCCF will provide safety and survival training for 250 future fishermen and women from high schools, particularly those located near commercial lobster fishing zones and with high poverty and unemployment rates,
in Hancock, Washington, and Knox counties. The MCCF also intends to train two additional qualified drill conductor instructors in eastern Maine, and deploy crucial training materials. This initiative aims to instill a culture of safety-conscious behavior, effectively reducing injury risks and ensuring a secure and sustainable future for Maine’s commercial fishing industry.