Sec. 1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

MARINE RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF

Bureau of Resource Management 0027

Initiative: Appropriates funds for annual grants to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to be used to employ a demersal finfish ecologist with the goal of establishing a research partnership between the department and the institute. These funds are intended to cover the department's share of all salary, benefits and operational costs and will be used only if matched on a one- to-one basis by the institute. The Commissioner of Marine Resources is authorized to participate in the selection process used to fill this position and in the development of an annual research plan.

GENERAL FUND 2005-06 2006-07

All Other $100,000 $100,000

________ ________

GENERAL FUND TOTAL $100,000 $100,000

SUMMARY

This bill appropriates funds for the Department of Marine Resources to use to pay for its share of the costs of a demersal finfish ecologist to be employed by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.