PORTLAND (AP) – Sens. Olympia Snowe of Maine and Jack Reed of Rhode Island are calling on the Bush administration to provide at least $14 million to lobstermen to help them comply with a new rule banning floating rope.

A federal rule that takes effect next October requires lobstermen to use sinking rope instead of floating rope on their traps. Supporters of the change say it’ll protect right whales from getting entangled in floating rope.

Industry estimates have placed the cost of compliance at $10,000 to $15,000 for each near-shore lobsterman. The costs could be far steeper for those lobstermen who drop their traps farther out to sea in offshore waters.