November 2014 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 11. Commercial Fishing News Downeast Lobstermen's Association: From the Director


From the Director – The Nor’easter has fi nally stopped, the October sun is now shining, the boats are out to haul and they are hoping that the lobsters that were carred-up lived through the storm. In our harbor, the lobster boats stayed safely on their moorings, which is good for this time of the year. We did have one mishap in Belfast, unfortunately an elderly lady drove her car right into the water at the boat ramp. She thought she was following the road. It was raining so hard, she couldn’t determine the wet road from the real water. She was pulled from the car in the last second by our fast moving harbor heros. Howard Whitcomb and Brydan Burleson saved the day and we thank them very much for being there!


This has been a busy month for getting meetings started for the season. The Lobster Institute met with plans under way for the 2015 Canadian/US Town Meeting which will be in New Brunswick this time. We shared memories of Klaus Sonnenberg and Pat Hodgkins, both of whom passed since the last Lobster Institute meeting. They will be missed very much by all that worked with them over the years. We introduced Annie Tselikis to the Board of Directors. She is replacing Pete McEleny’s seat as the new Executive Director for the Maine Lobster Dealers’ Association. She gave us a brief update on the re-structuring of the MLDA. We also welcomed new members, Norbert Stamps and Matt Jacobson. Dr. Heather Hamlin gave us an informative update on the larval research project that they are doing at the University of Maine. Part of this research is to discover why egg-larvae are dying. This has been a big question over the industry as a whole. We want everyone know that this is being researched at this time.


I was asked to give an update on the Searsport Dredge project with the following information: Deputy Commissioner Meredith Mendelson stated that the state has received the application for the private maintenance dredge of the Sprague Energy pier at Mack Point in Searsport. The dredge material will be disposed of on an upland area. “DMR expects to publish our intent not to hold a hearing. The total dredge material for the Sprague dredge is 13,100 cubic yards. The application for the water quality certification for the larger project in Searsport, including the maintenance dredge, channel and turning basin has not yet been received.


The Army Corps has


agreed to do additional testing of sediments from the area, and is currently completing that work.”


DMR has committed to holding a public hearing once that application is received. The R.E.D. Board met this week at the


Commissioner’s offi ce in Hallowell. This is the Research, Education & Development Board (Maine lobster license plates). We have almost an entirely new board and


needed to get together, meet one another and have an update of funds and proposals, past and present. The board members are as follows: Annie Tselikis, Bob Bayer, John Hathaway, Jon Carter, Laurin Brooks, Matt Jacobson, Patrice McCarron,Pete Daley and Sheila Dassatt. Each member represents their sector of the lobster industry.


This


takes in lobster associations, dealers, processors, promotion and fi shermen. The board consists totally of the Maine Lobster Industry.


Our commissioner, Pat Keliher,


Deirdre Gilbert and Jeff Nichols of the DMR are all part of the process. Carl Wilson was on board to answer any questions about the Ventless Trap and Sea Sampling Program. All in all, the meeting went well. We plan to get together once a quarter to stay in touch and keep communications open. The Fishermen’s Forum Board met this


week, also. This was our Ellsworth meeting that was held at the City Hall Chambers. The 2015 Fishermen’s Forum is in celebration of the Forum’s 40th


Anniversary! Doesn’t seem


possible that it has been 40 years since 1975! I’m assuming that a lot of us remember the early Forum Days. As a matter of fact, if any one has “archive pictures” of the early days, we would love to see what you have. We are thinking of putting together a booklet or website (not decided yet) for pictures that show the past 40 years up to the present date. Please remember, the Fishermen’s Forum was originally formed as a way for the fi shermen and their families to have a “cabin fever reliever” before the fi shing season started in the spring. So if you have any suggestions for what you’d like to have for seminars or entertainment, please let us know. Let’s make this the best Forum ever! It is good to see new faces, but it is also good to have a “re-union” of old friends and families that we used to spend time with. I know that we have watched an entire generation grow up at the Forum (our daughter included) and now their children are at the booths and attending the seminars (and running the halls). Last year, our granddaughters tended the DELA booth with us. Marty and Alan Hamblen introduced their new grandson, William, at the booth also. It is simply a way of life. Please let us know if you have any suggestions.


There would be no original Forum if it wasn’t for the Fishermen!


Last, but not least…..please be careful what you ask for when it comes to whale rules.


We have the documentation that the three lobster associations worked together with the DMR to ask for the best possible agreement with NMFS for the updated whale proposals and ruling.


The three that I am referring


to is Downeast Lobstermen’s Association, Maine Lobstermen’s Association and Southern Maine Lobstermen’s Association. We are all working together for the well- being of our Maine lobster industry and at this point in time, are quite proud of the


2014 LOBSTER BOAT RACE CD


accomplishments that have been achieved. We know that it is your choice to belong to a lobster association or the lobster union, but keep in mind that the associations have been working on this for a long time. We are talking experience as well as living it ourselves. We are surely not going to put the industry in jeopardy of losing the positive ground that we are on at the moment in comparison with the problems that Massachusetts is having. They have actual closures for trap fi shing…but bear in mind, the mobile gear will still be fi shing. Let’s think this one over very carefully, OK? We’d like to offer congratulations to all of the division winners of the Maine Lobster Boat Racing Association. The banquet is this evening at Hollywood Slots in Bangor with Keith Young and the Winter Harbor crew hosting this year. We had hoped to attend but with the stormy weather this week, today was a haul day. We hope you all enjoy! DELA would like to welcome new


member, Joseph Libby of Beals! We are always welcoming new members on board. DELA membership welcomes all lobster zones now.


Our first DELA Scholarship for $1,000 was awarded to Louisa Beal, daughter of Glenn and Diane Beal of Beals. Congratulations to Louisa and special “Thank you” to all that have contributed to the DELA Scholarship Fund! Our next scheduled meeting is Thursday, at Governor’s Restaurant


November 13th


in Ellsworth, 6:00 p.m. Guest will be announced. All are welcome to attend! Hope to see you there, Sheila


JOHANSON BOATWORKS Full Service Yacht Yard


Rockland, Maine • 207-596-7060 info@jboatworks.com • jboatworks.com


Over 800 photographs from all 2014 lobster boat races. $12.50, which includes postage.


To order: Maine Coastal News, P.O. Box 710, Winterport, ME, 04496 or call (207) 223-8846 and charge to your credit card.


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