Zone D Lobstermen Council Special Meeting on Effort
July 25, 2006 6:30 pm
Rockland Ferry Terminal
Present: Doug McLennan, Jason Hooper, Sarah Lash, Kevin Glover, Jason Witham, Michael Dawson, Gilbert Collamore, Dan Staples, Dan Miller, Gerry Cushman, Joe Bates, Kevin Benner, James Wotton, Wayne Canning, Rep. Chris Rector, Bob Baines, MPO Rachel Perron, Donald Wotten, Mark Cheney, Shelia Dassatt, Michael Dassatt, David Etnier, Sarah Cotnoir
At the last Zone D meeting they voted to accept option 1 listed below:
Student Entry Option 1
a) Require a Safety Component for completion of the Apprentice Program
(Is allowed under current law and is in progress at this time)
b) Require all Students/Apprentices to pass a basic lobstering test (as all Non-Commercial license holders must do) prior to getting their Commercial license. (Is allowed under current law)
c) Require that Student License holders complete High School (or GED) prior to obtaining a Commercial license (would require change in law – ‘grandfather’ current license holders)
d) Require that Student License holders be 18 prior to obtaining a Commercial license (would require change in law)
e) Require Student license holders to fish as a sternman for a Class I, II or III license holder (as other Apprentices must) for a minimum of ½ their total apprentice time. (Is allowed under current law – ‘grandfather’ current license holders)
Discussion:
Joe had a question about grandfathering people- where is the cutoff? There will be a big influx [of student licenses] before cutoff. There would be a cut-off date.
Dan asked if a retroactive date would make it more difficult to pass. There might be some opposition with the sternman component if someone is almost finished.
Dan M. explained that it wouldn’t come out of legislature until spring, and then it would go to Governor’s office and could be in law by the fall. Only a small number of people would be affected if this went into law in 2008. Could everyone be grandfathered in before governor signs?
Dave Etnier explained that unless a retroactive date is put in, it will grandfather all those that have a license prior to the date the bill is passed.
Another question was asked about 16 and 17 year olds being grandfathered.
MOTION: (D. Staples and W. Canning) To amend vote on option c and e to grandfather student license holders that are 16 or 17 years old. (9 in favor, 0 opposed and 4 abstentions)
The LAC will be meeting the last week of August to discuss effort issues. All zones have met since the last LAC meeting. Most changes need to go to the legislature. Some changes would be statewide initiatives and others would be zone options requiring a 2/3 vote.
DMR is working on similar adjustments with the Lobster Advisory Council and with their support will be submitting a bill.
Dave Etnier explained another option that the Zone F Council presented.
REQUIRE MINIMUM OF TAGS FOR AN EXITING LICENSE HOLDER TO COUNT IN A ZONE’S RATIO
[Zone option or state wide initiative?]
Under this option a non-renewed license would need to have held a minimum number of tags in their last year (300?) in order to have that exiting license count in the zone’s exit/entry ratio. (Would require a change in law)
Example: if a Zone had 20 licenses retired in one year but only 10 of them possessed 300 or more tags in their final license year, then only 10 would count towards the ratio. In a Zone with a 5:1 ratio it would mean only 2 new entrants come in as opposed to 4.
Discussion:
Dan said that the fishermen liked tags as currency option.
Dan M. explained that latent licenses were one of the biggest problems discussed at district meetings. This new option was not proposed.
Gerry would like the option to discuss the change to 300 tags exiting as described above.
Dave Etnier stated that this is being discussed as a statewide proposal and is supported in all zones except A, but it could be a zone option.
Dan M. said that limiting entrants has not worked because of student licenses.
Wayne asked if the student waiting list should be discussed.
Dan M. reminded the council that the student entry vote at the last meeting was proposed to slow students down without a waiting list.
There was some discussion about a range from 300 tags to 400 tags.
Dan asked if this variable would make it more difficult to pass.
MOTION: (J. Hooper and J. Witham) To vote on option of not counting tags with 300 or less tags for an exiting license holder to count in the zone’s ratio. (10 in favor, 2 opposed and 1 abstention)
Zone D & E boundary line
Discussion:
Mike Dawson reported that Zone D and E met and E is in favor of a hard line. They do not want a buffer. What direction should Zone D go in next? Zone D doesn’t want to go to 600 traps.
If a zone has a lower limit and you want to fish there, then you must abide by the most restrictive rule.
Mike stated that Zone D had always fished there, but they had no part in the Zone E trap limit vote.
Gerry asked about Zone D fishing less than ½ but some number in zone E without decreasing trap limit.
Dave Etnier explained that the State respects a zone’s right to set a more restrictive trap limit.
A question was asked about a new buffer zone.
Complaints have been made alerting Marine Patrol to patrol the area more frequently.
Gerry asked if this should be brought to the LAC level.
This is difficult to get support because it is a local issue.
Voting on referendum
The referendum results showed 90% in favor of the two Lobster Zone Management Options.
Do you support requiring a sponsor of an apprentice to have held a Class I, Class II or Class III lobster and crab fishing license for at least 5 years?
Do you support requiring that an apprentice may enter Zone D only if the apprentice apprenticed in Zone D?
Motion (D. Staples and G. Cushman) To move forward with the rulemaking process for the two lobster zone management options. Unanimously in favor.
The meeting adjourned 8:30 pm
