Senator Cathy Cook, R-Mystic, today applauded final legislative passage of her initiative creating a lobster restoration program. The measure , SB 132 An Act Concerning The Implementation And Funding Of A Lobster Restoration Program , is now in its way to Governor Rell's desk.

"As I said when voting for my bill in the Senate earlier this week, it's a good program, it should pass, and it should have been funded. Having said that, I look forward to working with the state Department of Environmental Protection to identify sources of funding, including state and federal grants and funding, for this program. Passing this bill is the first step toward restoring the lobster population and I thank my colleagues in the Senate and House for supporting this initiative," said Senator Cook, a member of the legislature's Environment Committee.

The legislation calls for the state Department of Environmental Protection to establish a lobster restoration program that involves licensed commercial fishermen marking the tails of mature female lobsters with a v-shaped notch and then releasing them in order to increase lobster egg production. The DEP will compensate participants who report landing, marking and releasing lobsters under the program. The legislation calls for DEP to seek state and federal funds for lobster restoration and related projects, and it permits the commissioner to select a contractor to implement the program.

"Passage of this bill is terrific news for those of us who love to eat lobsters and those of us who support the lobstermen. It is no secret to anyone that the lobster population in Connecticut waters is in serious trouble, and that it is imperative that we act now to correct the situation. We are extremely fortunate to have the positive experience of those working to restore lobsters in Rhode Island to look to as our environmental experts develop a plan for Connecticut," said Senator Cook.