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NOAA Says Cod Fishermen May Be Reimbursed For Monitor Cost

PORTLAND, Maine - Federal fishery regulators say they will be able to offset some, but not all, of the costs of at sea-monitors for New England ground fishermen this year.
 
At-sea monitors are workers who collect data that help guide fishing regulations. The government shifted the cost of paying for monitors from itself to fishermen earlier this year in a decision that was very unpopular with the industry.

NOAA Fisheries' Samual Rauch says it's not certain what the level of coverage will be. "We cannot provide an actual estimate of that. It depends on how much fishing effort occurs and the cost of each trip, both of which change periodically through the year."

Rauch says they may be able to provide 85 percent of the cost, but that's not guaranteed.   The reimbursement program starts July 1 and is not retroactive.  It will continue until available money runs out.  The government estimates the cost of at-sea monitors to be $710 a day.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.