WASHINGTON – Senate appropriators have agreed to provide more than $16 million in funding to assist the embattled fishing industry in Maine and other New England states, according to Maine Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, who requested the money.

If signed into law as part of a supplemental appropriations bill for 2002, the funding would provide economic assistance to states affected by a federal court ruling last month that closed certain groundfishing areas for haddock, flounder and cod and limited the number of days that boats can operate from a maximum of 88 days to 70. States would then distribute the money to fishermen and fishing communities in ways deemed appropriate.

Maine would likely receive an estimated $2 million, according to Snowe spokesman Dave Lackey.

“This is welcome good news for fishermen in Maine and around the region who are suffering as a result of severe fishing restrictions,” the senators said in a joint statement.

“We are very pleased that Senate appropriators have agreed to our request to provide this substantial relief, which will give states funding they can use to provide grants and other assistance for fishermen.”

Snowe and Collins joined other New England senators from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island last week in urging Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert C. Byrd, D-W.V., to support the funding request.

“We consider this funding crucial to achieving the balance in federal policy that will keep fishermen in business even as we bring the fishery stocks back to good health,” they said.

In a related move, Democratic Reps. John Baldacci and Tom Allen of Maine have joined other House members from New England in urging that the Bush administration appeal the federal court decision that will adversel.y affect Maine’s multibillion industry and the estimated 1,600 ground fishermen in the state.

“We are writing to you out of great concern for the crisis facing New England groundfish fishermen, and to urge your administration to file an appeal if the court does not respond favorably to motions to reconsider the decision,” the congressmen wrote to the White House.