With the recent announcement of $32.8 million in aid for New England's fishing industry, time will tell how that money is meted out.

Ben Martens, the executive director of Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, said the Maine delegation, and specifically Sen. Susan Collins, eased quite a bit of tension when she was able to reel in $32.8 million for the New England fishing grounds.

But, the focus now shifts on what to do with the money, Martens said.

The grounds were declared a federal disaster zone in 2012 after hauls of groundfish (specifically cod) collapsed.

The money, which comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will hopefully be used where it is needed most, Martens said.

“In the short-term, there are still a lot of questions,” he said. “But, we're hopeful that the money is going to be used in a way that has a long-lasting impression on the industry and these communities.”

Martens said the money should help breathe life into an industry that has taken repeated blows over the past few years.

Whether the money is used for buying back permits, or helping restructure fishermen's loans, Martens said the money Collins was able to bring back to Maine will help in one way or another.

Another option is the buy-back program, where fishermen are are paid to give up their licenses, meaning fewer ships going out for a dwindling catch.

But, getting out is a hard thing to do, Martens said.

“It's not an easy thing to get out of,” he said. “We'll take a look at buy-outs or buy-backs. What we'd like to see is that money remain in communities up and down the Maine coast.”

The money is meant to be spent along the New England coastline, but what troubles Rhode Island fishermen is quite different than what ills Maine ground fishers, Martens said.

“It's fantastic, so long as it's used in a productive way,” he said. “We want to see it used to make a long-lasting impact on the fishery. In the long-haul, we want to see the fishery and the surrounding communities become more stable.”

At some point, the fishery will bear even closer scrutiny, Martens said, and the federal money could make that goal easier.

“At some point we'll fund someone to monitor (the ships),” he said. “We've talked about putting some money away for cameras so we can monitor electronically.”

Or, the money could be used to offset some of the costs associated with the profession, Martens said.

“A lot of times, you have to spend money on fuel and bait and some boats might not update their safety equipment,” he said. “We could use it to help make some vessels a little safer.”