DEPT. OF MARINE RESOURCES

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Green Sea Urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) in Maine

Some of the links below are PDF files, and may require Adobe Reader software (download free here) .  Please visit our PDF Help page if you have trouble with PDF files, or contact Maggie Hunter if you need a different format.

 

 

• News, most recent first:
  • Proposed rules for the 2013-14 fishing season, includes 15-day season for Zone 1, 38-day season for Zone 2, daily limits and mandatory logbooks for Zone 2 harvesters; public hearings 6pm June 10 in Wiscasset and June 13 in Ellsworth; public comment deadline June 24, 2013; PDF file, 14 pages
  • Boston Common magazine sea urchin article, May 2013
  • Zone 2 2012-13 season, with new culling-on-bottom rule for divers, and Whiting Bay/Denny's River open days, pdf file, 2 pages 56 kb
  • Zone 1 2012-13 season, pdf file, 1 page, 13 kb
  • Mandatory logbook reporting for Zone 1 harvesters that began in 2010 will continue into 2014.  See Chapter 8.20 (P) for rule text (pdf file).
  • Portland Press Herald sea urchin article, Dec. 28, 2011
  • New safety training requirements for divers and tenders, effective Dec. 21, 2009
• Maine Sea Urchin Zone Council Page
• Maine Sea Urchin Fishery and Research Information
• Maine Sea Urchin Fishery Laws and Regulations (Chapter 26, PDF file)
• Commercial Fishing License Applications (see Marine Harvesting Application)
• Licensing Notes:
• Zone 1 draggers must choose an early or late season by November 15.
• Zone 1 divers who wish to change their early/late season designation must do so by September 1.
• Zone 2 harvesters who wish to change their early/late season designation must do so by August 15.
• Harvesters who wish to switch zones must apply by July 31.  Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. A switch from Zone 1 to Zone 2 is only allowed if there is an applicant who wishes to switch from Zone 2 to Zone 1, and vice versa. 
• For more information, call the DMR licensing division at 624-6550.

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