Rebuilding the state’s commercial fishery through research and development that leads to more lobsters, clams and fish in Maine’s waters is a project with merit. Rep. Ian Emery of Cutler has proposed a $55 million bond to do this. While this is more money than the state can afford, there is room within the bond package currently being put together by the Appropriations Committee to include money to create the Marine Fisheries Stock Enhancement Fund.

Over the last 10 years, the amount of fish and shellfish landed in Maine has dropped significantly, closing associated industries such as processing plants and putting hundreds of people out of work. To reverse this decline, Rep. Emery, a Republican and lobsterman, has proposed that the state invest in marine stock enhancement, a practice that has helped increase the number of fish and other species available to fishermen in Japan, Australia and California.

He envisions hatcheries growing urchins, clams and lobsters to be released in Maine’s ocean. Groundfish would also be part of the plan, although it is more difficult to ensure that cod, for example, will stay off the coast of Maine.

With more of these species available, more fishermen can go back to work on the water.

The work would be paid for through the Stock Enhancement Fund. Rep. Emery says private companies have expressed an interest in contributing to the fund and he expects fishermen would support a license surcharge if the money went toward increasing the number of fish and shellfish in the ocean.

The work would fit well with research already under way at the University of Maine’s aquaculture center, the University of Maine at Machias and other facilities.

The governor has included $10 million for UMaine’s aquaculture and marine sciences work in his $400 million bond package. Another $5 million bond is slated for preserving Maine’s working waterfront to ensure commercial fishermen have access to the ocean. Without fish in the ocean or clams in the mud flats, the water access become meaningless. Both of these areas could be pared back to allow money for the stock enhancement fund, as could other areas of the research and development or land acquisition bonds.

There has been much hand wringing in Augusta and elsewhere about helping the state’s commercial fishermen. Lawmakers recently rejected a proposal to allow groundfishermen to land lobsters to encourage them to land their catch in Maine.

A stock enhancement fund would do much more to help all fishermen, including clammers and scallop and urchin divers, while reviving the state’s fisheries economy.

Lawmakers should find room in their bond package for money to start this fund.