Lobster Zone G Council Meeting
Atlantic Hall, Cape Porpoise
May 2, 2007 – 7:00 p.m.

Present: Peter Eaton, David Provencher, Nathaniel Marshall, Harold Place, Brad Parady, Matt Nowell, Steve Taylor, Jodie M. Jordan, Robert LaFlamme, Jim Henderson, Ed Foye, Ed Hutchins, Zach Donnell, Pat White, Sean Neal, John Butler, Howard Gray, Charles Gray, Mike Sinclair, Greg Griffin, Scott Doherty, Chris Rule, Dan Cloven, Alden Turner, John Daggett, Patrice McCarron, Cullen Wilson, Carl Wilson, Sarah Cotnoir and MPO Daryen Granata.

Meeting began at 7:00 p.m.

The minutes from the last meeting were accepted.

Election of Officers, everyone remained.

Jim Henderson called FEMA and Alden Turner from the Small Business Association came and gave out pamphlets regarding disaster relief.

LAC Update:

Alternative bait – Dept of Marine Resources was given permission from the AG to label the bait. Issue of chemicals used to remove hair; it was also supported to ban the use of alternative bait.

Drug testing is also an issue, MPO Daryen Granata made it clear that the OUI laws apply to a lobster license holder. Where this issues is the biggest problem is coming from Vinalhaven and Criehaven – big heroin problem. We agreed to leave it as it is.

John Drouin from Zone A asked to have the oversized lobster transport issue be brought up at the next LAC meeting.

Seed Lobster Fund – Carl Wilson spoke about the draft we were all given before the meeting “Lobster Monitoring Peer Review”. The council agreed to split the seed money again.

DMR Updates:

Cullen Wilson who replaced Steven Robbins came to the meeting and wanted to collect samples of experimental rope, he also said by late June there will be a different experimental rope available.

January, February and March, closed lobster season – suggestion is coming from mid-coast, we agreed not to allow a closed season.

Dealer reporting – as of January 1st dealers in Maine are required to do reporting to the State.

Legislation – LD16 was voted in favor to make trap molestation a civil offense. LD691 Class I, II, III licenses for people 70 years or older get license at ½ price, but pay full lobster promotion council fees.

The week of May 23, 24 & 25 rope buy back at R.C. Moore in Portland – rope must be coiled to be able to be put in “Gaylord” boxes.

Science Update given by Carl Wilson:

Fishermen from M.D.I. to East are producing the most lobsters in 2006. Prices for 2006 were declining (for product), expenses to fishermen were increasing. The lobster resource is good, the economics are looking poor. 700 traps are now being used in ventless trap survey – all traps set from Maine to New York are being set the same way. 1-5% of all v-notch data came from “ripped off” flippers. Stripers are a big issue, every time there are more restrictions put on stripers the lobster industry takes a big hit – we need to protect our resource, something needs to be done about the striper bass fishery – allow another striper to be caught per day.

Lobster Zone Management Options:

1. Have to apprentice in zone where you will fish.
2. Captain of boat who has apprentice has to have held a license for at least 5 years.
3. Extend apprentice program up to 5 years instead of 24 months.

We all agreed to include Options 1 & 2 on the referendum. That will be sent out to fishermen in Zone G.

Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Brad Parady