The grant will be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service.

Announcement of the initial approval was made jointly by Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.

“Approval of strong salmon indemnification funding by the Bush Administration demonstrates that infectious salmon anemia poses a tremendous challenge, and that the Administration takes seriously this issue, said Snowe. “This is the first time fish farmers have been approved for indemnification funding so often used by traditional farmers on land, demonstrating the ascendance of aquaculture in Maine and nationally.”

Snowe continued, “While I am pleased that the Office of Management and Budget has given preliminary approval for $8.3 million in indemnification in each of the next two years, this is just a starting point. I have urged OMB and Agriculture Secretary [Ann] Veneman to press for full indemnification — totaling $12 million annually, or $24 million over the two years — and Secretary Veneman agrees. She is appealing to OMB for the full funding amount this week, and I will continue to press the Administration to give its approval to the strongest possible funding for salmon indemnification to help our industry recover from this devastating blow.”

ISA has ravaged salmon pens in Cobscook Bay and neighboring pens in New Brunswick, causing massive layoffs in eastern Washington County.

The grant money will be used by USDA for epidemiological support, surveillance, and to indemnify salmon farmers forced to destroy their fish to halt the spread of the disease.

In 1997, ISA was first discovered in North American waters in Canada. Since then, Maine growers and state officials have worked to prevent the spread of the disease. Despite their efforts, the disease has spread to Maine. Growers have had to destroy nearly a million fish that would be worth more than $12 million upon maturity. In addition, Maine has taken the dramatic step of quarantining Cobscook Bay.

The USDA estimates that the Maine salmon industry provides 2,500 jobs and generates $140 million in personal income, primarily in Washington and Hancock counties.