March 2013 | Vol
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March 2013 | Vol. 21, No. 3 LOBSTER LANDINGS IN MAINE AND CANADA GOING UP, UP, UP By Melissa Waterman and Patrice McCarron Everyone knows that there are a doubled what had been landed in whole lot of lobsters crawling about previous years, leaving many deal- in the Gulf of Maine and Canada. ers looking for markets in which to Maine lobstermen alone landed sell the product. more than 123 million pounds in Th e Gulf of Maine Research Insti- 2012, an increase of approximately 18 tute’s independent evaluation of million pounds from 2011, itself a re- the Maine lobster industry, com- cord-breaking year for lobster land- pleted in November, 2012, conclud- ings. Canadian lobstermen brought ed that recent increases in landings in nearly 147 million pounds in 2011 have resulted in signifi cant defl a- and reports indicate that that fi gure tion in price, concluding “It is clear may be up signifi cantly for 2012. that demand is currently growing Th e abundance of lobster in Canada less than the supply.” and the United States has caused Canada manages its lobster fi shery serious ripples within the industry. through 40 separate management Expanding supply requires new mar- areas, called Lobster Fishing Ar- kets to be developed, especially for eas. Each LFA has its own manage- a product that must travel through ment plan, trap limit and season. the supply chain alive. Additional Th ese LFA’s were designed, in part, Lobster landings in the United States and Canada have risen steadily during the past challenges are posed when lobster to ensure a steady supply of lob- decade. Warmer Gulf of Maine water temperatures have also shifted the timing of peak landings spike during times when sters to processors throughout the landings. MLA chart. lobsters are typically in scarce sup- year. Th e U.S. lobster fi shery, man- ply. In June of 2012, Maine’s landings Continued on page 12 Thank You to all the Maine Lobstermen! Shucks Maine Lobster WILD CAUGHT ~ SUSTAINABLE ~ INNOVATIVE RESULTS OF AREA 1 LOBSTER FISHERY Page 2 QUALIFICATION COASTAL OUTLOOK PRST STD Th oughts from the MLCA president By Melissa Waterman Permit No. 65 No. Permit Page 3 In 2008, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission amended FROM THE DOCK its management plan for lobster to include a limit on the number Your letters Brunswick, ME 04011 Brunswick, of federal lobster licenses allowed in Area 1 of the Gulf of Maine. According to Peter Burns, lobster specialist at the National Marine Page 5 Fisheries Service (NMFS) northeast offi ce in Gloucester,nmembers NEW RECRUIT of the lobster fi shery were concerned that lobstermen in other fed- A transition and a new boat eral lobster management areas where the number of licenses had been capped and where landings were declining would move into Page 8-10 Area 1 and stress lobster populations there. Th e Area 1 Lobster Con- MLA UPDATE servation Management Team and ASMFC Lobster Management Board wanted to cap the licenses at 2008 levels. Lobster industry Page 11 representatives suggested that the licenses go to those lobstermen LOBSTERMAN AS who had actively fi shed Area 1 between 2004 and 2008 rather than ARTIST simply to those lobstermen fi shing in 2008. Page 14 NMFS wrestled with the question of how to prove a lobsterman was DMR ADJUDICATION actively fi shing Area 1 during that period. Lobster harvests are cat- REPORT egorized by the state in which the lobsters are landed, not by the specifi c place in which the traps are set, Burns explained. So land- Page 18 ings history would not work. Instead,slobstermen suggested that- IN THE NEWS non the common standard be trap tags and a valid Area 1 permit. “All federal permit holders must at least have bought a tag,” Burns Page 20 said. So NMFS set up three tests to determine who could receive a MLCA HIGHLIGHTS federal permit to lobster in Area 1: possession of a valid federal per- Director Amy Lent mit, proof of Area 1 designation on that permit for the 2008 fi shing Maine Lobstermen’s Association Lobstermen’s Maine #1 Ave. 21 Western ME Kennebunk, 04043Continued on page 15 Paid Postage U.S. Page 2 | LANDINGS | March 2013 President’s NOTES COASTAL OUTLOOK Th oughts from MLCA President Patrice McCarron March is here and with it, the annual a volunteer board which refl ects the sea that year. Th e banquet also fea- Maine Fishermen’s Forum. Most of us diversity of Maine’s fi shing communi- tures several awards, including an don’t really look forward to the cold ties. Th e current chair of the board is industry award for the Marine Patrol and damp days, big storms and icy an active fi sherman, a true testament Offi cer of the Year and a Golden V- roads of March. But I think just about that the forum is still run by the fi sh- notch Award to honor a lobsterman Board of Directors everyone in Maine’s commercial fi sh- ing industry for the fi shing industry. for outstanding service. David Cousens, Chairman ing industry looks forward to the Fo- Fishermen harvest public resources Th e Trade Show has grown to become rum. For 38 years the forum has been and consequently are subject to in- a major attraction of the forum. With James Dow, Vice Chairman THE place where the fi shing indus- tense government regulation. Un- more than 100 exhibitors, the forum’s try and everyone associated with it Elliott Th omas, Treasurer fortunately, fi sheries management Trade Show is like entering a well- have gathered to walk the trade show often becomes a game of divide and stocked candy shop for most fi sher- William Brennan fl oor, talk, argue, and, of course, so- conquer, resulting in a system which men. Vendors from the United States cialize over adult beverages. seems destined to pit fi sherman and Canada showcase the engines, Amy Lent As legend has it, the forum is held against fi sherman. Fisheries manage- electronics, hydraulic equipment, Kristan Porter during the fi rst weekend in March ment was and still is stressful, frus- gear and other items that are so vi- every year because Farmer’s Alma- trating and divisive. Yet, despite this tal to a fi sherman’s livelihood. If you Lawrence Pye nac records showed that weekend fact, the forum provides a venue for want a new boat, an old boat, a new consistently has the worst winter all Maine fi shermen to come togeth- hauler or a better insurance policy, Staff weather. And for all the years that er. It reminds us that we have much you can fi nd it at the Trade Show. I’ve been attending, this prediction more in common than we often real- Th e forum is also a time for Maine’s President: has proven true. ize. Even the most contentious semi- elected offi cials to check in with the Patrice McCarron Th e fi rst forum took place in 1976, nar debate is likely to end with laughs industry. In a typical year, all four Landings Editor: born of a need to bring the fi shing over a friendly cocktail. of Maine’s Congressional delega- Melissa Waterman community together to grapple with It’s hard to think of another event tion will make an appearance and in the implications of a new federal law at which you can eat, drink, hobnob many years the Governor gives a Executive Assistant: Sarah Paquette – the Magnuson Fishery Conserva- with fi shermen from throughout presentation. It’s worth noting that tion and Management Act of 1976 Maine and the other New England the Department of Marine Resources – which put in place the country’s states, encourage the education of Commissioners and key DMR staff fi rst federal fi sheries management fi shermen’s children, and applaud always attend for the entire weekend, framework and established the ex- the noteworthy among Maine’s fi sh- using the time to build stronger rela- Landings is published monthly. It is clusive economic zone (EEZ). Over ing industry. Ask anyone who attends tionships with industry members. provided for free to all Maine lob- the years, the forum’s seminars and the Th ursday night seafood reception stermen thanks to the support of Th e Maine Fishermen’s Forum is truly discussions have acted as mirrors re- (with products all donated by the in- newsletter sponsors. Th is month’s a rare event. Try to fi nd another con- fl ecting the issues facing the fi shing dustry) about the quality of Maine sponsor is Shucks Maine Lobster. ference at which a fi sherman can get industry, while off ering participants seafood and the stature that those caught up on key regulatory issues, a neutral place where they can grap- who harvest those scallops, mussels, shop for all the goods and services Get noticed in ple with issues of the day. Th ese have clams, lobster and shrimp have in he might need, meet old friends and included the myriad changes to the their eyes. Friday night features the make new ones or talk turkey over a LANDINGS! groundfi shing industry, the Magnu- annual auction to raise money for beer with the Commissioner. Th e fo- son-Stevens Conservation and Man- the Forum Scholarship Fund in sup- rum allows fi shermen -- lobstermen, agement Act reauthorization in 1996, port of college students from fi shing scallopers, clammers, shrimpers, fi sh 2013 Advertising Rates establishment of co-management for families. Th e auction is always burst- farmers, groundfi shermen, seaweed the lobster industry, and in recent ing with generously donated items harvesters, worm diggers, and all the Full page (10 x 14.65 inches) $945 years, the implications of wind ener- which forum attendees eagerly bid rest – and their families to recon- gy development and seafood market- on.