To the Editor:
Maine has lost too many of its historic fisheries. If we want the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery to remain strong and continue to grow, we need reliable science to guide the decisions that affect fishermen.
That is why I am grateful for Senator Susan Collins’ work on this issue.
I am president of The Bluefin Collaborative, an Ogunquit-based nonprofit that promotes objective scientific research to improve the management of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Beginning in 2022, we worked with Collins and her staff to draw attention to the Slope Sea, an important bluefin spawning area off the East Coast that had gone largely unstudied.
Collins listened and acted. She helped secure funding for NOAA research cruises in the Slope Sea. The first cruises took place in 2025 and were remarkably successful. Another completed this year also yielded equally important data.
She also secured $129,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for The Bluefin Collaborative. This funding will allow us to develop a new tool for collecting genetic samples from Atlantic bluefin tuna. Those samples can help scientists better understand the fish and manage the fishery responsibly. The bluefin fishery drives lots of business to Maine boat yards, marinas, boat builders, marine supply houses, and countless other businesses.
But Collins’ work for Ogunquit extends beyond our organization.
She secured $2.85 million to reconstruct the iconic Perkins Cove pedestrian footbridge and the Harbormaster’s Quarters. She also obtained $3.425 million for dredging and surveys in Perkins Cove, helping vessels safely navigate the cove and supporting our commercial fishermen, charter boats, recreational boaters and local businesses.
These are practical investments with lasting benefits. They protect a working waterfront, strengthen our local economy and support scientific research that can preserve an important fishery.
As an Ogunquit resident, I have seen firsthand what Senator Collins’ experience and persistence can accomplish. She takes the time to understand local needs and then does the hard work required to deliver results.
Ogunquit, and Maine’s fishing community, is fortunate to have her in our corner.
Steve Weiner
Ogunquit
Read the letter: Seacoast Online