Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, will hold a senate hearing in Portland Oct. 14 on the future of the groundfish industry in Maine.

Snowe is the ranking Republican on the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmospheres, Fisheries and Coast Guard. She has called for a review of the science behind the impending round of fishing restrictions. Emergency cutbacks are expected for the season that starts May 1, while regional fisheries managers are discussing broad new management measures for the 2010 season.

The field hearing will focus on the ramifications of further cutbacks for the fishery, the state of the science that informs fisheries managers and the long-term viability of the industry in Maine. The public will have an opportunity to comment or pose questions to Sen. Snowe and the panel's witnesses.

The hearing begins at 1 p.m. in Council Chambers at Portland City Hall on Congress Street.

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