Saving Seafood

MAINE: DMR Seeks Input from Eastern Maine Lobster Harvesters Potentially Impacted by Federal Regulations

March 2, 2017 — The following was released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources:

The Maine Department of Marine Resources is seeking information from lobster harvesters in eastern Maine who might be impacted by regulations under consideration by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) which are designed to protect corals in the Gulf of Maine.

Two of the proposed Gulf of Maine coral protection areas are Outer Schoodic Ridge and southwest of Mount Desert Rock. One of the proposed management options is a total ban on fishing. The Department has proposed to exempt the lobster and crab fisheries in these two coral protection areas.

DMR has already provided information to the NEFMC compiled from dealer and harvester landings reports and industry input that gave an estimate of the economic impact of closing these areas as well as the number of potentially impacted boats and harbors.

In January the NEFMC voted that it was too early in the development of the Draft Amendment to consider an exemption and expressed an interest in more data and analyses of the fisheries in these two areas.

DMR is now seeking to gather more in-depth data that can be used to inform the federal regulations. “Maine’s lobster industry provided valuable data when the federal whale rules were developed, which resulted in much better informed regulations,” said Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher.

“The areas under consideration are very important to Maine’s lobster industry and we are again working closely with industry to ensure that these regulations take into account the full impact of these proposed regulations.”

Harvesters who fish in either or both of these areas, are being asked complete a survey, available on the DMR website here. “The survey results will provide the department and NEFMC with data that can demonstrate the impact that these measures would have on the lobster fishery and the Downeast Maine economy,” said Commissioner Keliher.  

There will be an informational session for industry at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum at the Samoset Resort on Saturday morning, March 4, 2017 at 9 am in the Rockport Room.  Industry is invited to learn more about the proposed closures, the timeline for decision-making, and how to participate in the process.

MAINE: Winter 2017 shrimp cooperative sampling program

December 5th, 2016 — The following was released by the Maine Department of Maine Resources: 

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the DMR are seeking eight shrimp trawling vessels and captains to collect northern shrimp samples in three regions of the Maine coast (three vessels in Western ME, three in Mid-coast ME, and two in Eastern ME), beginning in mid- to late January, 2017, fishing once a week for eight weeks until mid- to late March.  Each participant will be required to collect samples each week in one region, and will be allowed to land and sell up to 1,200 pounds of northern shrimp per trip.  There will be no further compensation.  Selection preference will be given to applicants using a size-sorting grate (designed to release small shrimp).  Highest selection preference will go to applicants who will participate in a compound grate study.

In addition, we are seeking five shrimp trapping vessels and captains to collect northern shrimp samples in two regions of the Maine coast (four vessels in Mid-coast ME, and one in Eastern ME), beginning January 30, 2017, once a week, for eight weeks until March 26.  Each trapper will be allowed to fish up to 40 traps each, hauled as often as necessary during the project.  Participants will be allowed to land and sell up to 500 pounds of shrimp per week.  There will be no further compensation.  

The purpose of the project is to collect northern shrimp samples during the winter period when the shrimp are in inshore waters, to collect data on the timing of the egg hatch, and the size, gender, and developmental stage of the shrimp.  We also hope to collect data on the performance of the compound size-sorting grate.

Please see the attached announcement for details on the project, how to apply, the application deadline (Dec. 19, 2016), and the selection process.  Please contact me if you have trouble opening the attachments.  This information is also available on our web site at http://www.maine.gov/dmr/science-research/species/shrimp/winter2017.html . 

Maggie Hunter

Margaret Hunter, Webmaster and Marine Resource Scientist,  Sea Urchin and Northern Shrimp programs

Margaret.Hunter@maine.gov

http://www.maine.gov/dmr/index.htm

Tel: (207) 633-9541

Fax: (207) 633-9579

Maine Dept. of Marine Resources (DMR)

PO Box 8

West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575