Lobster Zone E Meeting Notes
Lincoln County Communications Center - Wiscasset
6:30 p.m. – February 28, 2007

 

Present: John Seiders, Larry Knapp, Robert Royall, Ira Pinkham, Jimbo Lang, Guy Randlett, Tyler Hodgdon, Corey Pottle, John Tarbox, Fred Farnham, Darryl Grover, Mark Cheney, Alex Hutchins, Marc Curtis, Jeni Menendez, Carl Wilson, Sarah Cotnoir, Mark Gosselin, Sgt. Rene Cloutier and Rep. W. Bruce MacDonald

Absent: Tobin Densmore and Gary Snowman

The meeting was called to order at 6:37 p.m. by Chair Larry Knapp

Introduction and Welcome of New Member James Lang.

Election of Officers were as follows: Larry Knapp, Chair
John Seiders, Vice-Chair
Ira Pinkham, Secretary
Larry Knapp gave an update on the Lobster Advisory Council meeting. Larry also mentioned that is a real problem with bait and that it is not discussed at any meetings.

DMR Update – Sarah Cotnoir gave an update on whales, she said the exemption line and use of float rope (poly) is on hold and that an environmental lawsuit has been filed. Steve Robbins position is now vacant.

District Representatives Reports – Marc Cheney – quiet in the harbors
John Seiders – Cozy Harbor may be processing shrimp
next year.
Larry Knapp – Coast Guard problems

Howard and Charles Gray were present with their proposed bill “An Act to Protect Fishing Families”. The Zone E Council supported it and suggested it could be added to LD # 509 (effort bill).

The following DMR Legislation was discussed:

LD 847 - An Act to Support the Commercial Groundfish Industry - All in favor. It was suggested that there be a limit of 3,000 pounds per boat (even though that exceeds the 2,000 pound limit)

LD 170 - An Act to Permit the Landing of Lobsters Harvested by Methods other than Conventional Traps - No support.

LD 621 - Resolve, To Establish a Lobster Trap Tag Transfer Program - No support. Concern with exceeding the zone limit.

LD 92 - An Act To Modify the Boundaries of Maine's Lobster Fishing Zones - No support. Zone E would have to abide by 600 traps outside.

LD 311 - An Act To Create a Nonresident Lobster and Crab Landing Permit - No support

LD 509 - An Act To Amend Laws Pertaining to Entry into the Lobster Fishery - 7 in favor; 3 abstentions.

LD 16 - An Act To Make Lobster Trap Molesting a Civil Offense - All in favor.

LD 691 - An Act to Modify Lobster License Fees - 4 in favor; 5 opposed and 1 abstention.

The Code of Ethics was signed by all Zone E Council members present.

Carl Wilson did a Science Presentation.

The next meeting was set for April 4th at 6:30 at the Lincoln County Communications Center in Wiscasset. The Council requested that Kristen Millar from the Maine Lobster Promotion Council come to the next meeting and give an update.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.