New Hampshire's senators are supporting fishermen in their fight against federal regulations that shift at-sea monitoring costs to them.
Fishermen of New England species such as cod and haddock must pay the cost of fishing monitors under rules that took effect Tuesday. The monitors collect data to help determine future fishing quotas and can cost several hundred dollars per day. Many fishermen say they can't afford the new cost and some say they will likely go out of business.
Senator Kelly Ayotte agrees the costs have to be covered now or people will be out of business.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen says catch limits and at-sea monitoring fees threaten the very existence of the fishing industry.
Both were at a Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee hearing on the subject yesterday.