July 10, 2012 — SEAFOOD.COM NEWS by John Sackton – Alarmed at the low prices for lobster on the coast of Maine, lobster fishermen have asked whether the state could temporarily close the fishery to ease the glut and boost prices. Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher said no.
Further, the DMR warned fishermen not to try and enforce a de facto shut down by threatening to cut trap liines for those who would not cooperate.
This morning, Commissioner Keliher issued the following statement:
“The Department will not be closing the lobster fishery. Based on the concerns that have been raised by the industry, I have reviewed our statutory authorities and they do not allow us to shut down the fishery for economic reasons."
"We have heard that fishermen are seeking to impose a de facto shutdown of the fishery and coercing others into complying by threatening to cut off their gear. The State will not tolerate any trap molestation, and any such actions will be met with targeted and swift enforcement or other appropriate action. Harvesters should also be aware that such actions may be in violation of federal antitrust laws."
"The Governor and the Department of Marine Resources share industry’s concerns regarding the low price of lobster due to excessive supply, and we are committed to seeking ways to prevent this scenario in the future through appropriate marketing and management strategies. I have spoken to many industry members about this issue and will continue to solicit ideas going forward.”
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