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Scallop
Industry Community Meeting Issue Summaries
(Portland 5/30/02, Dennysville 6/3/02, Machias 6/4/02, Ellsworth
6/10/02,
Deer Isle 6/13/02, St. George 6/20/02)
Increasing
the scallop size to 4 inches
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General
consensus was that increasing minimum scallop size would enhance scallop
reproduction potential by putting more spat in the water.
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Dennysville
and Machias fishermen felt an increase would not necessarily yield a
bigger meat count.
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Those
in St. George supported this measure because it formalized their current
practices.
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Dennysville,
Ellsworth, and Deer Isle fishermen supported the issue but worried about
its enforcement potential.
Modifications
to dredge configurations
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There
was some concern regarding the heavy weight of the drags and their
impact on the bottom, especially in Ellsworth, Deer Isle, and St.
George.
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Dennysville
fishermen were resolute about their desire for rock drags.
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Machias
fishermen requested operational and conservation equivalent
modifications to both Digby and rock drags.
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Gear
modifications were the primary focus of the Portland meeting and
included light vs. heavy gear considerations, twine top configurations,
rope vs. wire tows, and PVC rings.
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St.
George fishermen indicated that, while Digby drags fished both sides,
the rings easily stretch out of compliance.
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Ellsworth
fishermen liked the idea of the lighter Digby drags.
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Deer
Isle and Machias fishermen thought that Digby drags wouldn’t work in
their areas and wanted more tolerance, in general, for gear options.
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General
consensus supporting the modification of current regulations to allow
reconfigurations of rock and Digby drags.
Potential
for closed areas for sanctuary/spawning
purposes
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Fishermen
at the Machias, Ellsworth, Deer Isle, St. George, and Portland meetings
would support this idea if the closures were tied to better enforcement
practices for both current and potential closures.
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Fishermen
in Dennysville opposed the idea due to high levels of poaching.
Furthermore, both Dennysville and Machias fishermen worried that
certain area closures would simply mark areas for poachers.
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In
St. George, Portland, Dennysville, and Machias some stressed the
necessity to ensure both draggers AND divers were excluded from closed
areas.
Raising
license fees for a dedicated research fund
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Industry
generally supported this idea in five out of the six regions as long as
the increase was relatively small and the industry had some say in
choosing research strategies.
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The
fishermen at the St. George meeting believed they already pay enough
money in fees; in addition, they feel they already know how to recognize
natural cycles and trends in the fishery so further research would waste
money.
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Attendees
of the Dennysville, Machias, Ellsworth, and Deer Isle meetings thought a
good portion of the money should be spent on spat enhancement.
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Dennysville
meeting participants specifically noted that part of the money should be
allocated for a stock assessment program.
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Various
fishermen throughout these six coastal regions also used the urchin
fishery’s experience to illustrate the dos/don’ts of such a fund.
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Fishermen
at the Dennysville, St. George, and Machias meetings questioned whether
this fee was to keep part-timers/latent license holders out of the
fishery.
Statewide
adoption of the Cobscook Bay culling requirement law
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The
fishermen were very divided about this law but safety issues concerned a
great number of them (that is, it would distract the Captain from his
primary task of operating the boat).
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Fishermen
at the St. George meeting indicated that this would not apply to them
because they cull before they cut, while those meeting in Portland
supported the idea with little discussion.
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Ellsworth
fishermen opposed the law due to safety considerations.
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Attendees
of the Dennysville, Machias, and Deer Isle meetings favored the idea, in
general, but believed that stronger enforcement was needed.
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Some
Cobscook fishermen requested modification of the current law to allow
for the Captain to be able to cut from a “culled container” while
towing.
Owner/Operator
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Although
this issue was not mentioned at the Portland meeting, fishermen in the
other five regions strongly supported the idea.
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Fishermen
in Deer Isle and Dennysville were in favor of this concept as long as
there was provision for injured and/or sick fishermen.
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Fishermen
in St. George supported the idea but warned of the necessity to make
allowances for fishing families.
Miscellaneous
Issues
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Fishermen
at the Dennysville, Machias, and Deer Isle meetings supported the
concept of area management.
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Fishermen
at the Dennysville, Machias, and Ellsworth meetings expressed repeated
desire for increased enforcement.
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People
in Dennysville also discussed different ways to manage access to the
fishery, as did people in Ellsworth and Machias.
While they were opposed to the idea of apprenticeship, they
worried explicitly about what the legislature would do with limited
entry.
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The
general attitude at the St. George meeting was anti-regulatory - they
felt the State already has made too many rules.
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Deer
Isle meeting attendees were also concerned about interactions with other
fisheries, shorter fishing seasons, and thought that a group of scallop
advisors should be created.
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