WASHINGTON – The Senate on Thursday passed legislation that will help provide stability and security for Maine and the nation’s fish and fishing communities, according to Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine.

The Magnuson-Stevens Act conference report now awaits final passage in the House.

Snowe, who chairs the Senate Fisheries and the Coast Guard Subcommittee, said the bill will for the first time prohibit overfishing in future fisheries management plans.