To keep the Gulf of Maine's northern shrimp stock healthy, its governing Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission established a tentative Dec. 1 to April 15 continuous daytime harvesting period that cannot land more than 4,000 metric tons.
This year's season could end early like last year's if that limit is surpassed. Maine fishermen netted or trapped most of the 12 million pounds of shrimp landed last year. Only two Cape Ann draggers briefly shrimped that season.
"We are shrimping because we are out of fish," said Gloucester Capt. Ricky Beal. "We always used to go shrimping, (but) the last time we went was in 1997" added Beal, who crews the 54-foot steel stern trawler, Horizons, with Charlie Reed.
"I don't have any choice (but to go shrimping). I'm just about out of codfish (quota)," added Paul Theriault, the Rockport owner and the Captain of the 42-foot Terminator.
"If I can get till the middle of March (shrimping), I'll be tickled pink," added Theriault, whose Terminator, also crewed by Ryan Osmond, is the only Cape Ann shrimper to work out of Pigeon Cove Harbor.
The northern shrimp numbers and quality are usually at their best in Ipswich Bay and nearby Scantum Basin, during cold Januaries and Februaries. The Cape Ann fleet has been lately working Ipswich Bay where it has often netted approximately 300 pounds of around 55-count (55 shrimp to the pound) shrimp per hour of bottom towing time.
Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.