April 30, 2015 — Eastern Maine lobstermen and scallopers were relieved to hear that the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC) voted last week not to designate a habitat management area in Machias Bay and to close a smaller area off Hancock County than previously had been proposed.
The vote was on Amendment 2 to its Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat document aimed at rebuilding groundfish stocks in federal waters. Maine fishing industry representatives had been concerned that scallop dragging and lobster fishing would be impacted by rules in the amendment.
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