Page 10. MAINE COASTAL NEWS April 2015 Commercial Fishing News NEWS FROM MAINE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES


Another Year of Historic Landings and Improved Value for Maine Lobster February 26, 2015 - For the third year in a row and only the third time ever, Maine lobster fi shermen landed over 120 million pounds with a record overall value of $456,935,346, according to preliminary landings data reported by the Maine Depart- ment of Marine Resources.


At $3.69 per pound, the 123,676,100 pounds landed represented an improvement of 79 cents per pound over 2013, the largest one year increase in per pound value since DMR and National Marine Fisheries Ser- vice began keeping records. The one-year increase in overall value was also the largest on record and at $86,653,573 was more than the total value of the fi shery twenty one years earlier.


“The Maine lobster industry’s long- standing commitment to responsible har- vesting practices continues to sustain not only this fi shery but also Maine’s coastal economy,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. For the second time, the department is reporting bonuses received by lobster harvesters which, while they only include re- ports from just over half of Maine’s co-ops, total over $7.5 million. “While this fi gure


is not complete, it does provide a better indication of the overall economic benefi t of this fi shery,” said Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher. Added to the overall landed value, the bonus fi gure brings the total to more than $464 million.


“During the 2014 season we saw a perfect mix of conditions for economic improvement in the Maine lobster fi shery,” said Keliher. “Not only were landings at an historic high again, a more predictably timed shed improved industry’s ability to manage the supply.”


Unlike the 2012 season when an early shed created a supply of new shell lobsters that exceeded demand and depressed value, the shed in 2014 happened later, allowing processors, dealers, and restaurants to han- dle them more profi tably. “Another signifi cant reason for the im- proved value for Maine lobster this past year is the effort of Maine’s lobster dealers who worked hard to expand markets for Maine lobster,” said Commissioner Keliher. “That work will continue as the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative begins working with global marketing powerhouse Weber Shandwick to grow markets for this sustain- ably harvested Maine seafood.” “Just as important, the Maine lobster


industry’s steadfast compliance with conser- vation laws and regulations has contributed to historic landings for a third year in a row,” said Keliher. “Measures such as size limits and prohibitions on taking egg bearing fe- male lobsters are embraced by industry. That voluntary compliance is the backbone of the Maine lobster fi shery’s success.” “In addition, favorable environmental conditions for growth and reduced predation on small lobsters have allowed the resource


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to expand dramatically since the late 1980s, and in particular in eastern Maine in the last ten years,” said DMR Marine Science Bureau Director Carl Wilson.


Among the indicators of resource health tracked by the DMR, the Settlement Index, which tracks the settlement of lobster larvae to the ocean fl oor and allows scientists to forecast future abundance, shows an im- proved picture for the future of the resource. “2014 marked a return to near average levels of settlement after three successive years of low settlement, which was a favorable pat- tern change for the resource,” said Wilson. The most recent lobster landings data can be found on the Maine Department of Marine Resources website at http://www. maine.gov/dmr/comfi sh.htm. Preliminary landings data for Maine’s other commercial marine resources will be published in early March.


Another Year of Improved Value for Maine’s Commercial Marine Resources March 5, 2015 - For the third straight year, Maine’s commercially harvested marine resources increased in overall value and gen- erated over one-half billion dollars for the state’s economy, according to preliminary data released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources.


The total value of Maine’s commercial marine resources landed in 2014 jumped by more than $44 million over 2013 and reached an all-time high of $585,348,370. The overall rise in value can be at-


tributed largely to an $86 million increase in the value of lobster and an additional $1.8 million in the value of scallops balanced by a decline in value for four species, most notably Maine’s elver fi shery.


“Lobsters continue to be Maine’s most commercially valuable fi shery on the strength of historic landings and rebounded value,” said Maine Department of Marine Resources. For the third straight year and only the third time ever, Maine lobster harvesters landed over 120 million pounds. The fi shery increased in value over 2013 to record high of $456,935,346. Maine’s scallop fi shery also saw anoth- er year of increased landings and value as it continues to rebuild from an all-time low of 33,000 pounds landed in 2005. Maine’s 438 active licensed draggers and divers landed an additional 78,335 meat pounds (without the shell) over 2013 for a total of 584,173


pounds. At $7,464,690, the value of the fi shery increased by more than $1.8 million. “Maine’s scallop fi shery continues to improve as a result of DMR’s new approach to Managment,” said Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher. “This is a great example of industry and the department working together to re- build this signature Maine fi shery.” Maine’s softshell clam fi shery also increased in value, growing by more than $1.1 million to $19,226,987, even while landings declined by more than 1.5 million pounds, dropping from 11,250,760 pounds landed in 2013 to 9,712,571 pounds. Threats to the state’s softshell clam resource from invasive green crabs are being addressed on a number of fronts including efforts by municipal shellfi sh committees and DMR’s Bureau of Public Health. Landings for Maine’s elver fi shery, con- strained for the fi rst time by an overall state quota, declined by more than eight thousand pounds, from 18,076 pounds in 2013 to 9,690 pounds. Value also decreased by more than $24 million to a total of $8,474,302 attributed in-part to the quota constraint and a decline in per pound value from 2013 of nearly $1,000.


The decline in value for the elver fi shery moved it from the second most valuable, a position it held for two years, to fourth. The softshell clam fi shery reclaimed its position as the second most valuable commercial fi shery, a status it had held prior to 2012. Atlantic herring, valued at $16,352,084 was the third most valuable fi shery in 2014.


Scalloper Charged With Multiple Ma- rine Resources Violations


March 11, 2015 - Lucas Lemoine, 33 of Swans Island, has been charged with multi- ple violations of marine resources laws after an investigation in the pre-dawn hours Mon- day by Marine Patrol Offi cers Jeff Turcotte and Brent Chasse and Specialist Sean Dow. Lemoine has been charged with vio- lating the law that prohibits dragging for scallops in an area with an underwater ca- ble, dragging for scallops in a closed area, dragging for scallops at night, possession of undersized scallops, and operating without navigation lights.


Dragging in a cable area is a Class D crime and carries a minimum penalty of $500 and up to a year in jail. The area where Lemoine was apprehended was near Lopaus Point which is on the Southwest side of Mount Desert Island near the Town of Tremont.


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At approximately 4:00 am Offi cers Tur- cotte and Chasse and Specialist Dow were patrolling in Blue Hill Bay in the vicinity of a power cable which runs from Lopaus Point and supplies electricity to Swans Island’s approximately 330 year round residents. The Offi cers witnessed Lemoine leave Bass Harbor in the fi shing vessel FOXY LADY and, without navigation lights begin to drag for scallops across the power cable. The area has also been closed to scalloping since the season started on December 1, 2014 as part of the Department of Marine Resources management of the fi shery. They apprehended Lemoine at approximately 4:30 am and upon boarding his vessel dis- covered the undersized scallops. “This investigation by Marine Patrol was the result of hard work by these offi cers acting on tips we received from industry,” said Sergeant Troy Dow who oversees the Offi cers involved. “This fi shery is on the rebound because closures like the one in place in this area have allowed scallops to regenerate. The majority of harvesters want


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