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August 2013 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 11. We’re half-way through the summer


D.E.L.A. - FROM THE DIRECTOR Commercial Fishing News


now. This means the in-shore lobster fi shery should be in full swing by now, if we aren’t already. In my last report, I talked about the marketing bill that was passed. This comes under the big subject….prices. It seems that each area has a little different story to tell about prices. I was in my local supermarket today and found the retail price to be in the $9.00 range once again. This was a hard shell price, so we aren’t really in full swing with the new shell lobsters just yet. There are a few showing up, so “let the fun begin!” The average boat price for the new shells that was reported at the commissioner’s meetings is $2.40 to $2.30 per pound. According to the headings of the questions at these meetings, this can be impacted by volume, has your harbor all set out, timing of the shedders, and in comparison with last year at this time. All of these items can be a factor.


Some other concerns that need to be discussed are that the fi shermen are seeing smaller than usual females with eggs. They seem to be the smallest that they have seen for a female lobster to be bearing eggs. How many have been seeing shell This is another observation that


disease?


we are paying attention to. This all comes under the question about climate change in our area.


If you should see much shell disease, please report it to places such as the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine, in Orono.


Green crabs seem to be a problem this year, also.


This also is a climate change problem that we are dealing with this year. They are really are problem in Southern Maine, but we are starting to see them in the Mid Coast area, also. They are eating


all of the grass undertows and creating a big problem for the clam fl ats. It was also reported that the lobster traps are coming up with very large amounts of green crabs in each trap. Basically, the only way to reduce the green crab population is to have a cold winter and a hard freeze this coming year. If anyone is having problems with their new trap tags breaking, please save them and contact your Marine Patrol offi cer. They have a possible bad batch that was sent out. The Marine Patrol is aware of the problem, so please save all of your broken ones so you can have the problem corrected. The commissioner’s meetings have been a very good tool for open communications with all of the fi shermen. This is the best way to “keep the doors of communication open” so there are no misunderstandings. The public hearings for the Amendment


to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan are beginning August 5, 2013.


In


Maine, the meetings are as follows: Machias – August 5th


of Maine at Machias Science Bldg. 116 O’Brien Avenue, Ellsworth – August 6th


, 6-9 pm at the University ,


6-9 pm at Ellsworth Public Library, 20 State Street, Rockland – August 7th


, 6-9


pm at Oceanside East High School, 400 Broadway, Portland – August 8th


, 6-9 pm at


City Hall, State of ME Room, 389 Congress Street.


If you would like a copy of the DEIS and Proposed Rule: www.nero.nmfs. gov/whaletrp/ or please contact the Plan Coordinator, Kate Swails 978-282-8481 or Kate.Swails@noaa.gov. If you would like to provide comments: 1) Provide verbal comments at one of the hearings in your area. 2) Provide written comments via – a) fax: 978-281-9394; b) mail to: Mary Colligan, Assistant Regional Administrator


for Protected Resources Nation Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Public Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 Attn: ALWTRP Large Whale Rule c) email to: NMFS.NER. whale@noaa.gov DELA is ready, along with all other representatives of the marine industry. Once again, we will be working along with all Maine associations to offer the best possible solutions to this well known issue. This was the fastest fi ve years of my life! Please, if you want to stay up to date, the best way is to fi rst, attend your local hearing. We will do our best to keep you informed. I would also like to welcome our newest members of DELA. Rock E. Green of Westbrook is our new AFLAC representative and member.


If you have


at Jasper’s Restaurant in Ellsworth. We are also happy to welcome Zachary Floyd of Gouldsboro. He is the grandson of John and Gerry Chipman, our DELA director from Birch Harbor. We are doing our best to keep tradition alive and well. Welcome, Zachary! Many “Thanks” goes out to Marty and Allen Hamblen of International Special Risks and Mike and Jane Giles of Atlantic Insurance & Benefi ts Agency for the help and booth that we shared at the Stonington Fishermen’s Day last Sunday. We had a great day meeting members, sharing space with President, Hilton Turner, who is


further questions about AFLAC insurance, Rock plans to attend our Annual Meeting which is scheduled for Thursday, September 12th


always a pleasure to work with. Mike and I appreciate all of the extra help and good company that went along with the day. The Island Fishermen’s Wives were the great hostesses that they always are and did a good job with organization. We had our veteran members such as Melvin and Janet Hutchinson, thanking us for our part in opposing the dragger bill that almost passed last month. This means a lot to us when people take the time to mention the hard work that we have been doing to represent one another in our lobster fi shery. Robert Ray stopped by and also thanked us for being there. Robert is one of our newest members and we’re glad to have his participation at the meetings. As a matter of fact, we had very good representation at the Ellsworth Commissioner’s meeting. I want to thank you, too. As I have said before in my letters for membership, “United we stand, Divided we fall.” I know this is an old saying from years ago, but it still stands in my belief system. With this last dragger bill, we were feeling pretty out-numbered in Augusta, but with the extra help and support, we did the best that we could and feel that every member counts. We plan to be at the Belfast Harborfest


in August and the Camden Windjammer Festival on Labor Day Weekend. If you are in the area, stop by and say “Hello.” By representing at these celebrations, we also


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