December 2014 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 11. Commercial Fishing News
From the Director – Here’s hoping that everyone had a
Downeast Lobstermen's Association: From the Director This is a public
good Thanksgiving and is looking forward to a good Christmas Season! The traps and boats are mostly up in our area now, the Weathervane is closed again for another winter and now it is time to let the meetings begin. We are always trying to move forward with our communications such as Facebook, e-mails and our website. Our information to reach us at all times is: dassatt711@
yahoo.com which is my e-mail address,
downeastlobstermen.org is our website address, which is always a “work in progress” and Downeast Lobstermen’s Association on Facebook. When it comes to social media, we want everyone to know that we try to deal with the issues objectively and try not to create a “big stir.” These blogs that do nothing but rant do not accomplish anything other than raise adrenaline. We have put the facts out there before and people completely overlook it and continue to rant on and on.
Please, this is what belonging to an association is all about: We all work together to try to come up with solutions. When we work together and come up with at least an “unhappy compromise, then we have accomplished something.” This is work that needs to be done with all of us cooperating due to the fact that we all have the same common cause such as having a fi shery for the future. We welcome you to join! The membership form is now in this publication and on our website. We invite you to get involved and help us make a difference for our future and our next generation. It is happening as we speak. The “little kids” that we used to see rowing around in skiffs and hauling 4 or 5 traps are now having kids of their own. Let’s move forward… In our area, there are various meetings to try to keep everyone happy in the harbor. In order to keep our new shipyard and their customers happy and have safe access for our local fi shermen, we are in need of harbor meetings. At this point in time, everyone is at the talking table and it is going fairly well. One fi sherman said, “it is like putting 50 pounds of _ _ _ _ in a 10 pound bag.” Which I have to say is pretty accurate. If
Statement from DMR Commissioner Ke- liher Regarding Cod Bycatch in Lobster Fishery
The Maine Department of Marine Re- sources is keenly aware of the importance of the issue of cod by-catch to the groundfi sh industry and we are taking this issue very seriously. The key point of concern is the number of cod estimated to be caught in the Maine lobster fi shery. The number recently published in the Press Herald was an esti- mate based on raw data provided by DMR staff to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). However, the analysis and extrapo-
you look at Belfast’s location on the map of Maine, our harbor turns into a big mud fl at at low tide. We are at the mouth of the “Passy”
River, which has no access after the walk bridge, it is way too shallow.
The following is the Notice of DMR Public Hearing Regarding Fishing Industry Impacts of Berth Maintenance Dredging Project at Sprague Terminal in Searsport, Maine. The DMR is required to provide the Maine Department of Environmental Protection with an assessment on the impacts on the fi shing industry of a proposed dredging operation. Sprague Operating Resources LLC of Portsmouth, NH has submitted a Natural Resource Protection Act (NRPA) permit application to dredge primarily silt, sand and gravel material from the berthing area at the Sprague Marine Terminal liquid and bulk docks in Searsport. The dredged material (13,100 yds.) would be disposed of onshore for benefi cial fi ll use on the Sprague property. This project does not include the dredging of the navigation channel proposed by the Army Corps of Engineers.
As allowed under this section, the Department of Marine Resources originally determined not to hold a public hearing on this proposal in its notice published on October 16, 2014 in the Bangor Daily News. This was determined due to the minimal amount of dredged material, the immediate upland disposal of dredge spoils, and no anticipated impact to fi shing in the area. Additionally, the DMR has requested the use of an environmental bucket dredge in order to minimize re-suspension of dredge material for this operation. Having received written notice from fi ve or more persons requesting a public hearing, DMR will hold such a hearing as required per 38 M.R.S. 480-D, sub-9.
The DMR will conduct this required hearing and receive testimony about the above dredging project at the Searsport High School gymnasium at 24 Mortland Road in Searsport on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 6 p.m.
For more information, contact Kevin Rousseau, Department of Marine Resources, 21 State House Station, Augusta, Maine
Maine DMR News
lation were not done by DMR staff. In fact, DMR believes this work over- estimates the actual by-catch of cod in the Maine lobster fi shery. The data, which was from 2008, was a very rough estimate, and does not fully account for the variability of by-catch in the lobster fi shery in different parts of the coast, in different depths, and in different seasons. That variability is signif- icant. This rudimentary analysis should not be the basis for management decisions. Additional dealer and harvester data
Continued on Page 19. 2014 LOBSTER BOAT RACE CD
Rockland, Maine • 207-596-7060
info@jboatworks.com •
jboatworks.com
Saving the Gill-Netter PHYLLIS A.
04333; tel.: (207) 624-6573 or email: dmr.
rulemaking@maine.gov.
notice that was sent by the DMR. The next subject that has been brought to our attention is the Cod & Lobster issue. It seems that the draggers feel that they do not want cod to be caught in lobster traps as a by-catch product due to their cod stock being diminished once again. This is primarily lobster gear that is being fi shed in areas closed to draggers. They feel that the science needs to be brought up to date. The issue at hand is that lobstermen are not allowed to land cod as a by-catch. This is a point that the dragger fl eet has trouble understanding. This is why the lobstermen are allowed to fi sh in these areas. This issue needs to be discussed.
This was brought to DELA’s attention right out of the gate. We are in touch with the DMR about this and will stay in close touch to keep you informed. We had our DELA meeting at Governor’s Restaurant in Ellsworth on November 13th
.
Randy Nichols of Tradesmen International was our guest. He explained Marine Trades Solutions and gave a very good presentation and question and answer period.
This is Restaurant in Ellsworth at 6:00 p.m.
benefi cial to our fi shermen during our off season and very helpful to boat builders looking for specialized jobs that need to be done, such as tooling or spraying. DELA welcomes our new members, Richard and Loraine Stanley of Richard Stanley Custom Boats of Bass Harbor! We had an opportunity to meet Richard and Loraine at our meeting. Welcome and Thank Your for you Support! Our next DELA meeting is scheduled at Jasper’s All
for Thursday, January 8th
members are welcome as well as those that are interested in membership.
If you’d like to speak with us, please call (207) 338-1406, (207) 322-1924 or (207) 322-1928 any time. If you have a concern about the fi shery, please feel free to contact us.
We are gearing-up for the Maine
Fishermen’s Forum coming right up in March, 2015 which will be the 40th Anniversary for the Forum! If you have any suggestions, requests or questions, let us know. The plans are still in the making! See you around, Sheila
JOHANSON BOATWORKS Full Service Yacht Yard
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.
The Phyllis A. Marine Association - A non-profi t organization dedicated to the preservation of the former gill-netter PHYLLIS A., built at Kennebunkport in 1925, and worked by the Arnold family out of Gloucester for 75 years. To help call (978) 391-3901 or visit their website:
www.phyllis-a.org. All donations are tex deductible.
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