All four U.S. senators from Maine and Massachusetts are calling for an independent investigation of the science behind federal fishing regulations.

Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine and ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmposphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard released the letter and a written statement this afternoon. It also was signed by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine; Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.; and John Kerry, D-Mass., Snowe said.

The letter, addressed to U.S. Department of Commerce Inspector General Todd Zinser, says questions "have arisen regarding the quality of the science used to determine catch limits for New England's commercial fisheries." The letter refers to various complaints by members of the fishing industry that the Northeast Fisheries Science Center has set unreasonably high rebuilding targets for depleted fish species, has not followed scientific protocol and has denied the industry access to underlying science.

It asks for an immediate investigation, citing soon-to-be-released population assessments for many New England commercial fish species that are expected to lead to another round of proposed fishing restrictions.

A spokeswoman for the science center said she has not yet seen the letter and could not immediately respond.

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