Rhode Island’s fishing industry is critical to our economy and our communities.  Senator Reed has worked to support Rhode Island fishermen and lobstermen, many of whom face significant challenges and risks as they work hard to earn a living. 

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, which oversees federal spending on the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Reed has secured millions of dollars in federal funding to boost collaborative research between fishermen and researchers to address challenges facing Southern New England fisheries.  He also introduced the Rhode Island Fishermen’s Fairness Act to give Rhode Island fishermen a seat at the table of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), a government board that establishes fishery management rules for federal waters off the mid-Atlantic coast. 

Reed has worked to conserve Rhode Island’s coastal waters so that our families, fishermen, and visitors can continue to enjoy the state’s natural resources.  And recognizing the important role the marine economy plays in Rhode Island, Senator Reed continues to support efforts to help grow Rhode Island’s marine workforce and revitalize our boating and fishing industry.