Maine Lobster Zone G Council Meeting Minutes,
Lobster Zone G Council Meeting
Scarborough Town Hall
April 26, 2010 7:00 pm
Mtg. Began @ 7:00 PM
Minutes of January’s meeting approved
Kathleen Reardon: gave a presentation about Sea Sampling
Shell Disease: If we see any, we should report it to her
75.6 Million lbs. landed in 2009
69.9 Million lbs. landed in 2008
Next stock assessment will include the ventless trap survey, which will be 5 years worth of data.
LAC: Laura Ludwig – one more buy back scheduled for May 6th. A lot of reports of chaffed and parted end and groundlines.
Bait we use is found to be the best if it comes from the Atlantic. The bacteria levels are lowest in Atlantic Herring. The best way to kill bacteria in the herring is to salt it. Bacteria die within 3 days. The worst way is through freezing.
Next LAC meeting is scheduled for 5-20-10. (There was a lengthy discussion about hide bait, Pacific fishes or fresh water fishes and any pathogens they could introduce to Atlantic fishes)
A commercial fishing license is required in order to catch your own bait. If gill netting the bait, a supplemental license is added to the commercial fishing license.
Marketing: LAC is looking at ways to increase how we market our product.
30% of ’97 Lobster License Totals discussion: Within 2 years, Zone G will go from 5:1 (4000 tags) to 1:1 (Licenses, not tags). We may look at student and apprentice license waiting lists. Should students go on a waiting list just like everyone else has to? Does it make sense to go to 30% of ’97 licenses or 30% of tags from ’97? Effort is increasing not decreasing. Laurin Brookes made a motion to stay where we are. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously by the council.
DMR Updates: Zone B and C now double tag on June 1st.
Zone A wants 600 trap. John Drouin is chairman of Zone A and he’s putting this out to vote.
July 2nd at GMRI, call UNH for the course (safety training course) usually the cost is $175
Togue Brawn is concerned that Halibut are being overfished. Halibut tags are only issued to commercial fishermen with Federal permits.
LD 1432 – very controversial – Res. With a freshwater license can check the box for a saltwater license. Free in 2010, but we need to register – countmyfish.noaa.gov – In 2011 an actual license will be needed for any saltwater fishing ($5)
LD 1560 – Leave it alone
LD 1584 – This is primarily from the shellfish industry
LD 1593 – Knuckles and claws bill – rule making May 11th Casco Bay Ferry Terminal
LD 1604 – Gives the commissioner more power to close an area when situations get out of control
Housekeeping Bill – Anyone cutting lines must make restitution to the person who lost the gear.
Days Out: Looking at taking an extra day off each week. This was brought forward at the time the herring fishery was in trouble last year. According to some dealers in the area, most guys take Wednesday off.
8 – Not in favor of sending this out to referendum
5 – Undecided
Seed Fund: Unanimously voted to put money into “research”
Open Discussion: Changing exit ratio on agenda of next meeting. Next Zone G meeting will be June 16th at 7:00 PM at the York Fire Station.
Heath Tetrault from MLA is the new Zone G observer. Joe Wojenski has taken a Federal Fishery observer position.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM
