Maine Lobster Zone C Council Meeting Minutes, October 19, 2006

Lobster Zone C Council Meeting
Jewett School Community Center Bucksport
October 19, 2006 – 6:00 p.m.

Present: Glenn Billings, Dan MacDonald, Robert Ray, Paul Venno, Hilton Turner, Mike Sherman, Vance Gove, Jr., Cory Webb, Larry Staples, Erin Pulstfur, Ted Ames, Bob Rosenbaum, Wayne Canning, Shelia Dassatt, Mike Dassatt, Laura Ludwig, Rep. Hannah Pingree, Sarah Cotnoir, Carl Wilson, Steve Robbins III, MPO Sgt. Dale Sprowl and MPO Rustin Ames.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Hilton Turner with an introduction of new council members.

An Election of Officers was held with following council members elected:
Hilton Turner - Chair
Mike Sherman – Vice Chair
Dan Macdonald – LAC Rep. and Mike Sherman as Alternate
Robert Ray - Secretary
Paul Venno – LCMT Rep. and Glenn Billings as Alternate.

DMR Updates:

Sarah Cotnoir is the new Resource Coordinator that took Terry Stockwell’s position and
Donna Hall is the new assistant to Lobster Zone Councils at DMR. Welcome from Zone C and we look forward to working work well together.

LAC Report:

Sarah talked about the rule that passed requiring apprentices to take the drill instructor’s safety course prior to getting a license. The Lobster Research, Education and Development Board met and have voted to set aside $70,000. in scholarship money that apprentices can apply for to help defray the cost of the safety course. The Lobster license plates have collected over $300,000 in funds.
Dan MacDonald said at the last LAC meeting in August that it was reported that each Zone would be getting $14,000. for lobster research from the Lobster Seed Fund.

There was a discussion about limiting the entry in to Zone C and a motion was made by Mike Sherman and seconded by Robert Ray to send out a questionnaire to Zone C.

Bob Rosenbaum and Ted Ames did a presentation on the Stonington Lobster Hatchery. They had funding to release 40,000 stage 4 lobsters on to the bottom areas where lobster is not producing, hopefully lobsters will start producing in those areas.

Laura Ludwig talked about the rope buy back program; the program has been funded for just under $2 million. This could help offset the cost of switching from float rope to sink rope through a system of vouchers given to fishermen.

There was an open discussion about the rope and Steve Robbins talked about the different kinds of ropes that have been tested by different fisherman. When fishermen were asked how they felt about the rope a few fisherman repeated that they can’t do it. Steve Robbins told the fisherman that if anyone was interested in trying some of the different types of rope to see him after the meeting.

The next meeting will be held after the whale rules come out.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.