Maine Lobster Zone G Council Meeting Minutes, March 15, 2005

Lobster Zone G Meeting Minutes
Kennebunk High School
March 15, 2005 – 7:00 pm

 

Present: Harold Place, Brad Parady, Steve Taylor, Jim Henderson, Gardner Marshall, Peter Eaton, Jim Alwin, Jodie M. Jordan, Laurin Brooks, Norman Nunan, Zach Donnell, Charles Gray, Howard Gray, MPO David Testaverde, MPO Rick Laflamme, Carla Morin, Seth Dube, John Butler, Bill Doane, Greg Griffin, John Higgins, Lyman Kennedy and Gary Cummings.

Meeting convened at 7:00 pm

Proposed New Federal Whale Rules

Terry Stockwell discussed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement DEIS for Whales. There will be four public hearings in Maine. The Portland hearing is April 7th from 6:00-9:00 pm at the Holiday Inn. It’s important to go and make your comments concerning the alternatives of the DEIS.

DMR is trying to get money for more “test rope” hybrid rope.

DMR and MLA are also trying to get $2 million in federal money for rope buyback. Two conservation groups are planning to collaborate with the project.

Although the proposed exemption lines do not help Zone G very much, hopefully, Zone G fishermen will support the concept of “exemption lines”.

Terry stressed the need for all fishermen to help out and give any ideas for alternatives.

In reference to the University of Maine survey to determine end line risks, Steve Taylor suggested that Samantha send the survey cards to everyone, not just zone council members.

Although, there was a 40% return – it was mostly guys who weren’t fishing hard or working at all. The part of survey that turned people off was the first question of “financial info”.

New Legislation

A day of “lobster bills” sometime before end of this month.

LD 513: This law, as it stands now is very difficult for the Marine Patrol to enforce. A lot of the fishermen in this meeting are against LD 513.

The zone did approve the “Act to Protect Fishing Families”, but, does that mean that when the license is handed down, the person can go right to 800 traps? J. Alwin expressed that it should be a zone issue, and Zone G is against it. This will be his comment to the LAC on March 16, 2005.

There was an RFP put out on the artificial bait issue. S. Taylor stated that we should find out exactly how the hair is removed from the carcasses. MPO Rick Laflamme spoke about one artificial bait company that the pig hides are cooled at 180-190 degrees, then they are placed in a tumbler and the hair is removed that way (boiling and tumbling).

Because of the shortage of bait, the bait companies remove the hide hair in an “environmentally friendly” way.

LD 1231: Zone G supports this.

LD 631: Failed in court last year and “it’s back”.

LD 1213: Thursday, March 17th from 5:00-7:00 pm at the Ferry Terminal in Portland to explain how there will be rules put forward to implement this LD 1213.

63+ million pounds landed last year (2004). Although, it was reported that landings were down, the rate of reporting was higher.

LD 728: Peter Eaton asked why would a non-commercial fishery open before a commercial fishery does?

Terry spoke briefly about the “tiered license suggestion”. S. Taylor commented that the Commissioner should remember that nobody wants to lose any more traps. None of the harbors along the coast were in favor of the trip (daily) reporting – pretty much trashed along the coast.

The fishermen need to get involved in this effort, help the department so that they can get a better idea of a “fisherman friendly” manner.

The license proposals never seem to get resolved because of the demographics of this state. In Kittery, there are the shipyard workers and snow plow people, who will be fishing 600 or 700 traps, and the full-timers will not be happy. When you go Downeast (Machias), the guys go blueberrying, tipping, worming, and catch a few lobsters. They’ll make a living and the coast in between is doing well and are happy with the way things are.

Lobster Advisory Council Update

Full time/part time issue: A difficult issue who is full time and who is part time (75% of income, or pounds landed?). Full time gets full allotment, part time gets ½.

Question from J. Alwin: Does Zone G still want the council to look into tiered licenses to reduce effort? 11 voted to put students on the waiting list.

S. Taylor: Suggested we leave it alone, go to a 5:1 ratio. He said that 40 years ago, 200 traps was a big string and guys were screaming then that they were getting crowded. Cutting gear back causes overcrowding because when there is a pool of lobsters, everybody sets in that area because nobody can leave gear in other places to wait for lobsters.

Many questions were asked by Jim Alwin – a lot of talking and different ideas/opinions.

Next Meeting Date Set

Next meeting in June in Kittery.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.