Despite efforts by Maine’s delegation and Governor Mills to get the federal whale rule implementation date pushed to July 1, NOAA did not budge on that request, and the new federal regulations went into effect … Continue reading
Electronic Tracking to be Required for Federally-Permitted Lobster Vessels
On March 31, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Lobster Management Board voted to require federally permitted vessels fishing for lobster and Jonah crab to use electronic vessel tracking devices next year. Vessels from … Continue reading
Guest column: Collision course? ASMFC draft Addendum 27 and the Take Reduction Team
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is moving forward with a new Addendum intended to support the resiliency of the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank (GOM/GBK) lobster stock.As discussed in past industry meetings, the one … Continue reading
Midwater Herring Trawlers Win Court Case
This article was first published in National Fishermen and appears here with permission. A federal court ruling could reopen some Northeast waters to mid-water herring trawlers, after a 2019 rule change that shut them out … Continue reading
“Tough Times Ahead” warns DMR
The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) addressed several of the state’s seven zone councils during January, and will finish this round of meetings in February. Department staff updated zone council members on the status of … Continue reading
Where Do The Lobster Trap Tag Fees Go?
By Jeff Nichols, DMR communications director As many of you know, the Department of Marine Resources has had to increase the cost of trap tags. Commissioner Keliher avoided implementing this increase for as long as … Continue reading
Guest Column: A tough time to predict the future
I came across this quote from Mark Twain the other day: “Predictions are difficult, especially when it involves the future.” Not a day goes by that I don’t hear a question from a fisherman about … Continue reading
Maine’s Owner-operator Management System a Success
A quiet man lobsters out of Owls Head. His boat is new, to him, a refurbished 46-footer bought to fish offshore. He started lobstering when he was a child, graduating from a skiff to a … Continue reading
Maine’s Lobster Management System Built on Local, State Collaboration
A long, indented coast. Small boats operating from small harbors. Sharp contrasts in tides, current, bottom features. The complex elements of the Maine coast have created a complicated fishery, one whose management has evolved over … Continue reading
Maine Lobster Fishery Traits Rare in Modern Fisheries
Each day Maine lobstermen roll out of bed in the pre-dawn hours, make their way to the wharf, collect their sternmen and row out to their boats. They bait up, if they haven’t done so … Continue reading