June 2013 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 11. D.E.L.A. - FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR From the Director –
It looks like we passed the threat of another anomaly like last year! Sometimes it does seem that we have a tendency to worry too much about things before they happen. They call it “wasted energy.” I have been told this more than once and still need to remind myself not to worry about certain things. It seems as though it has been colder than usual, which was a comfort when thinking about lobstering for this season. I’m going to start right out with some membership news that is good news: We’d like to congratulate Billy Bob Faulkingham and his wife Carrie on the birth of their new baby boy, Carter Owen. He’s a handsome little guy! If I’m correct, they now have a beautiful girl and a boy. We have congratulations for graduations: Shareen Palmacci, daughter of Richard and Eve Alley of Addison, graduated from Husson College. Brittany Dunbar, daughter of Raymond and Linda Dunbar of Corea, graduated from Nashville School of Law. We are very proud of both of these girls and wish them the best with their future. I saw a nice story about Nick and Norbert Lemieux building Nick’s new boat in their shop, Little River Boat Shop in Cutler. Norbert is quite resourceful by lengthening the shop to accommodate the size of the boat! He says that you can’t even tell that he did it. We wish them well with this project. We’d love to get some pictures when the time comes.
Moving on the some of the subjects that have been going on, the LD 486 Marketing bill has passed in the legislature but they are working on amendments that are agreeable to everyone. Let’s hope that agreement is something that can be accomplished for the fi shermen and the dealers. We have a
meeting concerning this at the end of the month and I should know more about the end result. I will keep you informed about this bill, which will not be in effect until 2014 if it goes through.
The Canadian strike seems to be slowing down and boats are going back to work. They have been educated to the fact that they should not be pointing their animosity toward the Maine lobster shipments. Maine lobster is not their problem this year as they felt that it was last year. At this point in time, we do not have an over abundance of lobster and our retail price is up to $10.99 a pound in the Mid Coast area. We have been told that the boat price is around $5.00 to $6.00 a pound. This is much different than last year. Does this tell us something about supply and demand? Yes, as the shedders start to show up, the price will go down….but if we follow the demand for them, we shouldn’t be over- run with lobsters and keep our expenses and over-head down on bait and fuel. I know that we can do this wisely without being told to “slow down” or take days off. We as independent business owners can do this and be just as wise with our businesses as we are with our conservation measures. After all, this is Maine and we lead by example, right?! One example, (you may think I’m crazy) but I was watching Pawn Stars one evening and was thinking, people seem to want more for their product than the dealer wants to pay. If this item is rare, the price is higher than an item that is much more common and more of them. Of course, the dealer (understandable) says what he thinks it is worth, but he needs to make money on this item also. After a little “going back and forth” they decide on an agreeable price for both parties. It occurred to me that this is
much like what the job of the co-op does for us. This was their original intent of being a fi shermen’s cooperative to my re-collection. You see, even when I watch an occasional TV show, my wheels are always turning and I can see comparisons with what we do for work. Watch the Crab Fishermen in Alaska. They are fi shing for less crab this year and their price is up. Their over head is down and they appear to be out there for less time. They are not quite as stressed out and tired and worn. Food for thought, I know. One last thought for my article this month, I was stunned that the kids in Bath could not bless their “fl eet” when they launch the boats that they built in school. This is a Maine Tradition! It breaks my heart to think that bureaucracy is now telling us what we can and cannot do when it comes
to teaching our next generation. This is one of the jobs of the associations, which is to speak for the fi shermen. If we lose these rights, we’ve lost the battle, just as we write in our introduction letter for our membership forms. Please, take a long, hard look at maintaining what we have now because once it is gone, we won’t be able to bring it back again. We all need to work together to the best of our ability. When you’re wondering who to trust, please remember, “We’re not going to sink our own ship.” When I accepted the position of Executive Director, I was very proud and in it for the “Long Haul and the Test of Time because we live it.” Be Safe this Season, Sheila
The lobster boat MOLLY HOCK tied up at Dysart's Marina in Southwest Harbor.
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