A Maine fishermen with a basket of scallop. (Photo: MainePublic/Stockfile)
Maine’s scallop sector requests strict protective management regulations
UNITED STATES
Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 00:30 (GMT + 9)
Maine’s scallop fishermen expect another year of conservative management carried out by the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to make sure the fishery continues rebuilding.
The state is looking to continue that trend this year with a season that keeps fishermen restricted to tight limits on the number of pounds they can harvest. Fishermen are also limited in the number of days they can fish, and the state is looking to trim a few days, The China Post reported.
The scallop fishery bottomed out at just over 33,000 pounds in 2005, and the state responded by applying conservation measures, such as rotating areas where scallopers could fish year after year. Last year, fishermen harvested nearly 800,000 pounds, which was the most in 20 years.
“We are hopeful that the recent upward trend in landings are attributed, in part, to the conservation measures that have been developed,” said Melissa Smith, a marine resource management coordinator with the state.
The state divides the fishery into three scalloping zones. The most productive fishing grounds are in Zone 3, which includes Cobscook Bay.The state is looking to shave the number of fishing days in that area from 55 to 50 this year.
The state is taking comments about the proposed rules until September 24.
The first fishing would begin on December 1 and the last one could take place as late as April 20.
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media
|