Saving Seafood

Mainers grapple with risk that a shrimp season this year could be the last one

October 5, 2018 — PORTLAND, Maine — Scientists and policymakers gathered Thursday in Portland to weigh their desire for a 2018 Maine shrimp season — the first in five years — against the very real possibility that allowing shrimp to be harvested this year could leave the species beyond the point of return.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission presented a draft of its Northern Shrimp 2018 Stock Assessment Report, which those assembled at the Maine Historical Society heard with resignation but not surprise.

The northern (Maine) shrimp stock is depleted and the biomass is at an all-time low due to high fishery removals and a less favorable environment, according to the draft.

The mortality rate in 2011-2012, the last years with shrimp seasons — was very high, and the number of juvenile shrimp has remained “unusually low” since 2010.

Furthermore, the environment in the Gulf of Maine is in flux, Margaret Hunter of the Maine Department of Marine Resources and chairwoman of the assessment subcommittee, said Thursday.

Read the full story at the Bangor Daily News

 

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

Warming Waters Have Been Biggest Detriment to Gulf of Maine Shrimp Stocks

November 17, 2015 — Soon, a decision will be formed as to whether or not to open the Gulf of Maine’s shrimp fishery.

The decision to open or keep closed the fishery will soon be unveiled, as a technical committee will meet this week to make its decision on the stock.

Margaret Hunter, marine resources scientist at the Department of Marine Resources in Boothbay Harbor, said the long process of whether or not to open the fishery is nearing a decision.

The northern shrimp fishery, which includes the Gulf of Maine, is managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Decisions for the Gulf of Maine shrimp fishery are made ASMFC’s Northern Shrimp Section, which is comprised of commissioners from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Hunter currently sits on the Northern Shrimp Technical Committee along with scientists from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine.

Each fall, the TC presents an annual assessment and from that, makes recommendations for the upcoming season. Hunter said in an email that the TC is currently compiling its 2015 report and that the TC will have a webinar Thursday, Nov. 19 to craft its recommendation for the upcoming season.

“I cannot tell you what our recommendation will be yet; in 2013 and 2014 we recommended no fishery,” she said in an email. “We hope to have our document finalized and out to the public around Nov. 25.”

Read the full story from the Boothbay Register