Department of Marine Resources
Lobster Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
Natural Resources Service Center
6 Beech Street, Hallowell
November 28, 2007 – 5:00 PM
A meeting of the Department of Marine Resources’ Lobster Advisory Council (Council) was held on this date at the Natural Resources Service Center, 6 Beech Street, Hallowell, Maine. Council members attending this meeting included: Chair Bob Baines (Non-Zone Lobsterman), Jon Carter (Zone B), Dan MacDonald (Zone C), Ted Hoskins (General Public Member), Gerry Cushman (Zone D), Dana Rice, (Eastern Dealer), Larry Knapp (Zone E), Elliott Thomas (Zone F), Jim Henderson (Zone G), and Peter McAleney (Western Dealer Member). Council members not present included: John Drouin (Zone A), Dana McIntire (Non-Zone Lobsterman) and Cappy Sargent (Non-Zone Lobsterman). Commissioner George Lapointe, Deirdre Gilbert, Sarah Cotnoir, Colonel Joe Fessenden, Carl Wilson, Togue Brawn and Donna Hall of the Department of Marine Resources were also present. Others present were: Annie Tselikis, Gina LeDuc, Pat Pinto from Saltwater Marketing and Dane Somers from the Maine Lobster Promotion Council.
The meeting convened at 5:10 p.m.
1. Welcome and Review of Agenda
2. Approval of Minutes (September 19, 2007)
MOTION: (J. Carter and E. Thomas) To accept the minutes of the September 19, 2007 meeting as written. Unanimous.
3. New Business
a. Salt Water Marketing – Pat Pinto
Pat Pinto of Saltwater Marketing gave a presentation to the Lobster Advisory Council about a product called Clawdia’s Secret a newly developed lobster bait booster or extender. Pat stated that Saltwater Marketing along with Blue Seal Feeds has worked in conjunction with the Lobster Institute and fishermen from Maine and Canada to test a series of experimental lobster bait products. Pat said that their goals in testing were to find something that would attract lobsters, a product that was absolutely environmentally safe and would be safe for lobsters to eat, as well as a durable product that would hold up a long time.
The product was launched in to the market in October. Clawdia’s Secret is manufactured by Blue Seal Feeds; a New England company with over 140 years of animal feed manufacturing experience dedicated to innovative, effective, and environmentally friendly products. Clawdia’s Secret is a bait booster/extender that is made from fish protein, marine plant products and minerals. Pat recommended that Lobstermen use one piece per bag along with some fresh fish and stated that the product has consistently tested well and lasted up to three hauls.
Pat said that Saltwater Marketing has focused on working with co-ops and that the company is looking for a place approximately 7,000-8,000 square feet to open a high pressure processing plant. The processing plant would kill the bacteria and produce a fresh product with a longer shelf life. Pat said the company is looking at different business models to be able to build brands and develop new packaging technologies and in turn compensate the harvester on a value added product.
b. Maine Lobster Promotion Council – Dane Somers
Dane Somers the Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Promotion Council introduced himself to the Lobster Advisory Council. Dane said he has been in his new position for three months and is looking forward to continuing and expanding the MLPC’s promotional activities. Dane stated that the MLPC is in the process of upgrading their dealer and buyer’s list to optimize the communication between the two groups in the marketplace.
Dane said that they are in the process of reviewing other funding sources to help the industry. He said that Alaska is a good example of one area that is doing very well; they get a lot of State and Federal money. Bob Baines said that the Lobster Advisory Council would like to see the results of the review once it was completed.
Dane stated that he will be contacting all Lobster Zone Council Chairmen in the next month to obtain their email and contact information. Dane encouraged the Lobster Advisory Council to visit the MLPC’s website to see the current outreach information being provided by the Maine Lobster Promotion Council at www.lobsterfrommaine.com.
c. Shrimp Season Update
Commissioner George Lapointe announced that the 2007-2008 shrimp season has been set and will be 152 days long which is a one day increase from last year’s season. The shrimp season will be open from December 1, 2007 thru April 30, 2008. Commissioner Lapointe said that the approved season was based on recommendations of the Northern Shrimp Technical Committee and Advisory Panel.
In a recent press release from Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Section Chair Ritchie White from New Hampshire states “efforts to reduce fishing mortality in the early 2000’s continue to provide an above average abundance of shrimp for the fishery.” Chair White also points out that “by approving another five-month fishing season, we are able to maintain improved harvesting and marketing opportunities."
d. Herring Update
Commissioner Lapointe reported that the 50,000 mt total allowable catch on herring was caught by October and if you recall a percentage was set aside for January-June. Next year the TAC will be reduced by 5,000 mt making the total allowable catch 45,000 mt. The ASFMC has agreed to look at spawning area restrictions and if we are successful with spawning closures, there will be discussion on more days out of the fishery, but the council process is a slow process.
e. Meeting times
Bob Baines said he had been asked by Council member John Drouin to discuss with LAC members about the possibility of starting Lobster Advisory Council meetings at 4:00 pm. Jon Carter said he thought it was a good idea given the fact of some of the long commutes to the meeting. Larry Knapp said he agreed to an earlier start. Dan MacDonald said it was fine with him; he would just leave earlier from the island to arrive on time. Bob said starting with the next LAC meeting; the meetings will begin at 4:00 pm.
f. Update on Whale Rules
Commissioner Lapointe told the Lobster Advisory Council that the Department of Marine Resources has been working on an alternative plan to present to the Take Reduction Team to give them a credible alternative to the rules. The Commissioner said that we have a lot of work to do and this is a very slow process.
Jon Carter asked if we stay with the status quo with sinking groundline, would it give us more time with the endline. George said if we leave groundlines alone, they will start the endline discussion at the TRT meeting in April. Jon asked, wouldn’t that give us more time. Elliott Thomas asked how that would give us more time. The thought is to give a credible alternative and many discussions could be brought forward. Bob Baines said in the mean time tag fees went up a dime and asked if sometime in January the Department of Marine Resources will have an idea of what the research items are that they will be working on. The Commissioner said that Patrice McCarron, the Executive Director of MLA called me last week to say that she will be sending their list forward. Gerry Cushman asked if the discussions are not until April, will it be at least a year before this goes in to place. George said that their process is very slow. There are about 70 representatives there and a lot of proposals will be brought forward at that meeting.
Gerry Cushman asked at what point do we tell the rope companies to start making rope. We can’t tell them in September to be ready in October. Bob Baines said the GOMLF is doing another rope buyback. Jon Carter said with the whale research he was in hopes that we can at least do something about moving the line to the 50-fathom line. George said that research won’t change the whale sightings and how whales forage over rocky bottom. The issue of quantification is tough; we don’t really know how many lines are out there. Larry Knapp asked how long have there been 350 whales. Larry said he did not think there were more whales now and asked aren’t there more traps in the water than before. Even if there is one entangled whale that is too many. Bob said we can’t have any entanglements. Gerry asked how can they get a rule passed without scientific proof. NMFS has a scientific process and shipping and fishing are two of those. The information is the data of the sightings; the more sightings the more risks. Scientists don’t necessarily know how whales get entangled. Bob Baines said more guys will be going to singles. George mentioned that we received word of a new DAM zone today and they had a copy in their packets. Bob said he thought DAM’s were going away and George said yes in April.
Jon asked if anyone had seen the Irving commercial about what they’re doing to protect whales. Gerry pointed out to Dane Somers that maybe they should do a commercial about what lobstermen are doing to help protect whales. Dane agreed that we should let people know what we are doing to help the whales. He said his idea would be for them to appoint a spokesperson that takes the calls from the press because this is a sensitive issue and lobstermen should be cautious about what is said to the press and how it is said.
g. 2000 lb Limit on Seed Lobsters
Dana Rice opened the discussion proposing to adjust the 2,000 lb limit on seed lobsters. Dana said if you have a pound that holds 200,000 pounds, 2,000 pounds is only 1%. Col. Fessenden said the reason we have the rule in place for the cap is because one year we had a dealer get stuck with 10-15 thousand pounds. George asked if he had thought on what the cap would be. Dana said anything would help and he wanted to make it as simple as possible. He said it is difficult in some zones to find a dealer to become involved in the seed program process and this also involves a lot of work for Marine Patrol.
Dana Rice will be meeting with DMR staff to discuss any changes or adjustments. If changes are deemed to be necessary, this issue will be brought back to the LAC. This issue is tabled until after they meet.
4. Old Business
5. Reports and Updates
a. DMR Updates
o Rulemaking
Deirdre Gilbert said the Marine Resources Committee met last Monday and voted on the carry over bills. LD 798 “An Act to Standardize Inshore Dragging Seasons for Scallops and Sea Cucumbers” was voted ought not to pass and there was no support for LD 1594 “An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Closed Periods for the Hauling of Lobster Traps”. Deirdre said that there are no lobster bills for this upcoming session.
Sarah Cotnoir said that Zone G supported the apprentice requirement to require a sponsor of an apprentice to have held a Class I, II or III lobster and crab fishing license for at least 5 years and require that an apprentice may enter Zone G only if the apprentice apprenticed in Zone G. Zone C has had three district meetings on limited entry and next week will meet to decide if they want to close their Zone. Zone F will be meeting in late December to talk about their new exit ratio using tag calculations.
Dana Rice asked about the consolidation bill. George said that the State has a $95 million dollar deficit and that there is interest by the Governor to do some consolidation, but there is no bill yet to move it forward. Dana said the DMR would suffer if we get wrapped up with other agencies. The Commissioner said that the Governor has said we do have something to discuss and that we should go out to our stakeholders with this and told the LAC that people should pay attention to this. Bob asked if this is the Governor’s decision. George said that is correct and it is happening with schools and jails. Dana said we need to get a message out that we do contribute to this economy.
o ASMFC
The Commissioner said he has a meeting next week on trap tag transferability with discussion about
permits being transferred in to Area 1 as part of the discussion. The Lobster Management Conservation Team will be meeting early in the New Year. George said the Commission has asked for a moratorium on shad, river herring and alewives.
o Patrol Update
Col. Fessenden reported with the recent Dynamic Area Management Zone in southern Maine Marine Patrol had a lot of cooperation from the fishermen; however, there are some areas that the Marine Patrol Officers did not find good compliance and had turned some cases over to NOAA. Gear has been marked so fishermen will know that they have been checked by Maine Patrol.
The Colonel said with the upcoming shrimp season Marine Patrol will be working the shrimp tow areas and he was in hopes that both shrimp fishermen and lobstermen would communicate well and be cooperative with each other like they were last year.
o Commercial Fishing Safety Council (CFSC) Update
Bob Baines said the CFSC has not had a meeting recently. Col. Fessenden said that he had spoken with John McMillan and that he had a lot of requests from people to take the drill instructor’s safety course. Bob said that Legislation had been introduced to Congress to require all boat captains to take the course, but it would likely take a few years to get through.
b. Zone/Industry Issues – Summaries
Zone A: No Zone A representative present.
Zone B: No Zone B meeting since the last LAC.
Zone C: Meeting next Tuesday on limited entry, we’ll see where it goes.
Zone D: No issues I can think of.
Zone E: Had a meeting with Dane Somers and Pat Pinto and I hope they can come back to our next meeting. We need to work on ideas to petition the Governor to look at Bio fuels, promote natural baits, selling our image, the work we’ve done with weak links and show that we’re more conservative.
Zone F: Elliott asked if there was anything that could be done about tugs and barges. George said he had an Attorney approach him about establishing specific shipping lanes and not putting gear in their way. Jon Carter said in Bar Harbor they set up a courtesy lane for the cruise ships. Bob Baines said he thinks that fishermen just don’t know about the shipping lanes. Larry Knapp said that he agrees and it is lack of experience.
Zone G: It has been a poor year in our harbors, trap limits, closed seasons. Some lobstermen have fired their helpers and gone to using alternative bait. Their costs are too high and they don’t know what to do.
6. Set Next Meeting Date and Agenda
The date for the next Lobster Advisory Council meeting has not been set.
MOTION: (J. Carter and D. MacDonald) To adjourn. Unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm.
