November newsletter.indd
Transcription
November newsletter.indd
T HE M ONTHLY N EWSLETTER of the MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION Better Informed, Better Decisions By Hanna Wheeler & Patrcie McCarron November 2009 Vol 17, No. 10 Lobster industry examines other bait sources The Maine Lobstermen’s Association is investigating the lobster industry’s bait situation in an effort to ease the upcoming bait crunch. The MLA is compiling available data on the pogey (Atlantic menhaden), red fish, and herring fisheries and other bait supplies in order to determine the likelihood of compensating for the cuts in herring quota (see “Bait shortages loom” in the October MLA newsletter). Many unknowns exist. “It’s been interesting to talk to managers, scientists and industry members to get a handle on the situation. They have a pretty good idea of where the fish are coming from and what the fish are sold as, but they don’t know much beyond that,” said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the MLA. For example, in 2008, nearly 190,000 mt of pogies were landed along the Atlantic coast, but only 47,000 mt sold as bait. Can the lobster industry snag a bigger piece of the pogey catch? Which areas of the coast will struggle most with bait shortages? And what amount of bait storage is available? “Once we pull the individual pieces together we can paint a more accurate picture of what our bait industry is and what our alternatives are Herring stacked high at Winter Harbor in the future,” said McCo-op. Photo: Hanna Wheeler Carron. The MLA is conment of Marine Resources (DMR). ducting surveys of Maine lobstermen and Some of the preliminary findings may bait dealers and compiling data from Na- seem obvious. Some are surprising. The tional Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), important thing, McCarron explained, is Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP), and the Maine DepartSee Bait Source on page 4 Fishermen tangle with whales By Michele Gryga A Cape Cod fisherman has been fined $500 for violating federal law by disentangling a hump back whale caught in his fishing gear in July 2008. Robert Eldridge, a 40-year-old fisherman out of Chatham, MA, faced a potential $100,000 fine and a maximum of one year in jail if found guilty of violating the federal Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Eldridge was reported to officials because he had an observer aboard his vessel at the time of the incident. He accepted a plea deal on September 30 with a reduced fine of $500. As part of the deal, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdminSee Whales on page 9 O’Hara Lobster Bait Proud Sponsor of the MLA U.S. Postage Paid Brunswick, ME 04011 Permit No. 65 207.594.0405 Canadian lobstermen aid package questioned By Michele Gryga The Canadian government’s $15 million* in direct aid for the Canadian lobster industry calls into question Canada’s international treaty obligations with the US. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), government subsidies generally are prohibited. In a CBC News broadcast, Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea acknowledged that “providing Maritimes lobster fishermen with subsidies in this time of low prices violates Canada’s trade agreement with the United States.” Yet Shea announced the aid package’s implementation on June 10 and its finalized eligibility requirements on September 22. $15 million is directly available to lobstermen through Short-Term Transitional Measures (STTM). The $15 million is part of a larger $75 million aid package earmarked for the lobster industry. Aid is not available to all lobstermen. Only those that meet strict criteria are eligible for the one-time payment. Applicants must be license holders. Assistance is not available to deckhands or crewmembers. The applicant must have held a valid lobster license in both 2008 and 2009 and earned income from lobstering during both years. Lobstermen must have made in 2009 less than or equal to $50,000 in gross landings. Applicants also must have experienced at least a 25% decline in landed value between 2008 and 2009. License holders must be “lobster dependent,” meaning that their lobster- landed value must have represent- ed at least 50 percent of their total landed value in 2008 and that their gross value of lobster landings in 2009 must have been at least $2,500. Canadian lobstermen are required to report their landings to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The DFO determines an applicant’s eligibility based on these records. In a September 30 article by Sou’Wester, a weekly Nova Scotia paper, Shea quantifies that of the approximately 9,700 lobster license holders roughly 3,000 lobstermen will qualify for some financial relief under the program. The STTM caps aid at $5,000 per license holder. An eligible license holder only may receive 75% of the difference between the gross value of his 2009 lobster landings and the gross value of his 2008 lobster landings, but only up to the $5,000 cap. The application period ends on January 31, 2010, with the last payment being mailed on March 31, 2010. In addition to the $15 million in STTM, $50 million will be spent over five years for Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures (ALSM) to restructure the industry and create long-term sustainability projects. $10 million will be spent on Community Adjustment Funding (CAF) for lobster marketing, innovation, and product development. A joint government-industry lobster steering committee will oversee CAF’s funding and project development. The US’s and Canada’s fisheries are closely integrated with high trades in live lobsters from the US to See Canada aid on page 2 2 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION Maine Lobstermen’s Association Advocating for a A sustainable lobster resource lo and the f ishermen and ccommunities that depend on it Since 1954 S Board of Directors ••• President: David Cousens So. Thomason 207.594.7518 1st VP: Jack Merril Isleford 207.244.7884 2nd VP: Brian McLain New Harbor 207.677.3377 Sec/Treasurer:Arnold Gamage, Jr. So. Bristol 207.644.8110 Bob Baines, Spruce Head 596.0177 Shane Carter, Bar Harbor 288.0236 Dwight Carver, Beals 497.2895 Gerry Cushman, Port Clyde 372.6429 Jim Dow, Bass Harbor, 288.9846 Jim Henderson, Camp Ellis, 282.0913 Sherm Hutchins, Deer Isle, 348.2718 Robert Ingalls, Bucks Harbor, 255.3418 Mark Jones, Boothbay, 633.6054 Jason Joyce, Swan’s Island, 526.4109 Tad Miller, Matinicus, 372.6941 Mike Myrick, Cusing, 354.6077 Brad Parady, Kittery, 337.3141 Kristan Porter, Cutler, 259.3306 Lawrence R. Pye, Small Point, 389.1390 Willis Spear, Yarmouth, 846.9279 Jay Smith, Nobleboro, 563.5208 Craig Stewart, Long Island, 846.3158 Elliott Thomas, Yarmouth, 846.6201 Pat White, York, 363.6783 Donald Young, Cushing, 354.6404 Jack Young, Vinalhaven, 863.4905 Staff ••• Executive Director: Patrice McCarron 207.967.4555 [email protected] November 2009 Steaming Ahead The number one question I’ve been getting from lobstermen about the anticipated herring cuts is “why isn’t the MLA standing up and fighting for us?” The sentiment is that we should just say no, and tell everyone that we don’t accept the proposed changes. I wish it were that easy! I can assure you that the association is standing up for you on this issue. We’re doing our job of telling everyone that the proposed herring cuts will cripple our industry and threaten to put many lobstermen out of business. The current proposals are not acceptable and do not pass the straight face test. Cutting the quota in half in a fishery that is not overfished just doesn’t make sense. We continue to meet with herring industry representatives, strategize with our delegation and attend meetings, yet the proposal to reduce herring quotas remains. MLA is advocating that our current herring quotas, which we are still adjusting to, remain in place next year. This will allow time for a new benchmark assessment to be conducted. Scientists acknowledge the huge amount of uncertainty in the results of the current herring assessment. That uncertainty has been used as the justification to recommend slashing the herring quotas as a safeguard for the resource. They are not required to consider the economic fallout resulting from their decision. And the lobster industry is left with severe economic impacts because the scientists have chosen to be extremely cautious, just in case. The MLA is also advocating that NMFS prioritize funding to improve the science behind the assessment, especially the inshore stock component which we are so heavily dependent on for bait. And the MLA is supporting the development of an experimental fishery for redfish in the Gulf of Maine which has the potential to provide a small, local, source of bait. And we continue to relate the economic hardship this will cause our fishermen, our industry and our communities. It is critical that the management community understand the significance of shutting the valve on our primary bait supply. The loss of such a large local source of bait will be devastating. Obviously, when bait is not available, lobstermen cannot fish. Bait shortages will become commonplace if this proposal goes forward. Bait supply will no longer be local. Bait prices will shoot up. Our delegation, led by Senator Snowe, has been doing an amazing job advocating of our industry. And they continue to explore and pursue political options in the hopes of turning this around. So, why haven’t we gained any ground? No one has questioned the severity of the impacts of the proposed herring cuts on the lobster and herring industries. The problem lies with the reauthorized Magnuson Act. Congress reauthorized the Magnuson Act to ensure that socio-economic considerations and politics do not sway decisions related to science. Congress has designated the job of setting acceptable catch limits to a committee of scientists known as the Science and Statistical Committee (SSC). The law mandates that managers follow their recommendation. So when the lobster industry argues that the recommended acceptable catch level will cripple our industry, managers may sympathize, but cannot reverse the decision made by scientists. Unless the SSC changes their recommendation, the manager’s hands are tied. There is no flexibility to navigate through these gray areas. One questionable decision snowballs into a crisis for the industry. There is a lot of uncertainty with re- gard to the herring quota for next year and a final resolution can only happen through better science. The MLA will continue to push for a new assessment. Scientists must be confident in the information driving management decisions. The sooner this happens, the sooner we can revisit the herring quotas. Of course there are no guarantees that a new assessment will yield different results. MLA is investigating the potential for other baits to make up for any losses in herring supply. The lobster industry uses a lot of bait, and it will be difficult to replace existing supply. We’ve already absorbed a loss of more than a half million bushels of herring through the quota cuts since 2006. We must also start to think about what we can do to help ourselves if the herring supply is cut next year. So, try this exercise to help you understand how this issue could impact your lobster business. Consider your anticipated gross revenue from lobstering this year. Subtract out your annual bait, fuel, sternman and other basic operating costs. At $2.75 a pound, I’m guessing there’s not much left. Now try the same exercise, but double your bait bill. I know lobstermen believe in the free market and survival of the fittest, but how many lobster businesses are fit enough to survive this storm? We will soon know what the 2010 quotas will be as the Council is scheduled to vote on this November 17. I promise you that the MLA will continue to this fight for more herring for next year and steady, affordable bait supply in the future, no matter how high the deck is stacked against us. As always, stay safe on the water. Patrice McCarron is the Executive Director of the MLA Staff Attorney Michele Gryga 207.967.4555 [email protected] Communications Coordinator: Hanna Wheeler 207.975.7177 [email protected] The MLA newsletter is published monthly. It is provided for free to all Maine lobstermen thanks to the support of newsletter sponsors. This month’s sponsor is O’Hara. Maine Lobstermen’s Association 21 Western Ave., #1 Kennebunk, ME 04043 [email protected] www.mainelobstermen.org Our newsletter is now online! Canada aid Continued from pagee 1 Canada and high trades in live lobster and processed lobster product from Canada to the US. Canada catches and processes the majority of lobster. In 2007, Canada landed 95,843,764 pounds valued at $562,433,000, accounting for 55% of the overall landings, while the US landed 78,753,529 pounds valued at $283,697,000 in US dollars. Canada boasts a large processing industry into which the US market feeds. The Canadian processing sector is comprised of over 500 buyers, 400 shippers, and about 40 processors. By way of comparison, the US has some 2,000 dealers (buyers/ shippers) and a handful of processing plants. Canadian firms import 50-70% of the US catch annually. Most of this goes to St. Lawrence Gulf-based processing plants, augmenting their supply of raw material from local fisheries. The US also represents the largest market for Canadian lobster, taking 70-80% of Canada’s total lobster exports. The ALSM and CAF do not act as direct subsides but they will bolster the Canadian lobster industry as a whole. This money will capitalize, restructure and promote Canadian lobster. Project ideas may include refurbishing processing plants, opening new plants, increasing holding capacity, or further promoting the “superiority” of Canadian-caught lobsters. Government capitalization may affect the market price of lobster in the future by increasing the price of the value added to the raw material. Despite the government’s aid, many Canadians criticize the STTM. Canadian lobstermen are particularly frustrated with the program’s limiting eligibility criteria and capped payments. Lobstermen argue that only a few will qualify as lobster dependent under the program. Few have made less than or equal to $50,000 in gross landings in 2009. They also criticize the use of gross landing values instead of net landings values because rising expenses are not taken into consideration. Lobstermen have pointed out that this is particularly important due to the loss of net earnings resulting from the decrease in lobster prices and increase in bait and fuel expenses. Shea has echoed the fishermen’s lament in a recent report in the Sou’Wester, stating that something needs to be done regarding the difference between expenses and revenue. This perhaps implies that the government may be thinking of expanding the program. However, Canada has not made any steps to either expand the STTM or change its criteria. *all dollar figures are reported in Canadian dollars except when otherwise indicated. November 2009 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 3 Stonington co-op still going strong By Hanna Wheeler When one out of five people on an island have a lobster license, you’re going to need a big place to sell your lobsters. The Stonington Lobster Co-op is one of the biggest lobster co-ops in the state. Its 100 members, two locations and 10 seasonal workers (five year-round employees) keep co-op manager Steve Robbins pretty busy. Despite the long hours, Robbins says he really values the job. “I like helping people,” he said. He must be doing something right. Co-op membership is strong and growing. The co-op is also expanding its small but successful retail trade. They have advertised their retail sales through television and print ads both locally and regionally. And they plan to set up another retail sales section at the co-op’s second location. The majority of the co-op’s sales are through wholesale markets, but Robbins said he sees value in retail sales. Retail customers pay a higher price, and Robbins has observed a growing demand for purchasing directly from the lobstermen. “Customers like the idea of a business owned and operated by fishermen,” said Robbins. “The bottom line is more money to the fishermen.” Having the Zone C Lobster Hatchery next door has helped the co-op’s retail sales. “It generates a lot of foot traffic,” said Robbins. “We’ve had people from all over the world.” The lobster hatchery was established in 2005 by the Stonington Lobster Coop, Zone C Lobster Council, the Stonington Fisheries Alliance and the Penobscot East Resource Center (PERC). Before that, the co-op ran a small, volunteer-run hatchery during the 1980’s. The Zone C Lobster Hatchery studies the use of hatchery-reared lobsters in the re-establishment of wild lobster populations. A 16-member Hatchery Steering Committee made up of fishermen from each district of Zone C helps to guide the direction of the hatchery. Robbins says the hatchery and the co-op share a beneficial relationship. It attracts retail customers to the co-op. It also helps maintain a healthy lobster resource. “Customers like the idea of sustainability and fishermen like the idea of ownership of the resource. It’s about stewardship,” Robbins said. The Stonington co-op is one of the oldest in the state. Established in 1948, its membership is multi-generational with some instances of great-grandfathers, grandfathers, fathers and sons all boasting co-op membership. Co-op 1 on Indian Point Road is the original buying station and site of the co-op’s headquarters. Several years after the co-op’s establishment, another wharf came on the market. Co-op members decided to purchase it and dubbed it Co-op 2. Robbins commends the foresight of those early co-op members. “You could not service the number of boats that we do from just one facility,” he said. Another far-sighted move by co-op members included in the installation of hydraulic conveyor systems at both facilities. George Trundy, the former manager of the co-op, designed and constructed the co-op’s conveyor systems. The conveyor system eliminates a lot of time-consuming labor that otherwise would be done with a hoist or by hand. “It’s well-thought out and wellconstructed,” Robbins said. Other dealers have looked at Stonington’s conveyor system as an example, he said. PHOTOS BY HANNA WHEELER Archerie Pickering has been a member of the co-op since 1960. He recalls how they used to put bait in drums and roll them. Now with plastic bait boxes and fork lifts, “There’s not as much backbreaking work,” he said. He says the installation of the conveyor system between eight and ten years ago made loading lobster and bait a lot faster. Before, they had to hoist one crate at a time. The bottom of the wooden crates would fall out, he said. They put bait in washtubs instead of stainless steel bait boxes and they didn’t have electronics on the boats. “It’s been quite a change,” he said. Pickering used to drive a truck for the co-op, delivering lobster and groundfish once a week to Ipswich, Massachusetts. He said the co-op got out of the groundfish business because the overhead got to be too high and the fish too scarce. Co-op members also used to drag for mussels. The co-op is looking towards increasing its bait storage. Right now, it has a cooler at Co-op 1 and a cooler and a freezer at Co-op 2. Robbins says maximum storage is only necessary for a few months, though that might change if bait shortages become a reality. Access to bait is just one of the challenges the co-op is facing. Robbins rattled off a list including the economy, herring management and gear restrictions. “It’s unprecedented,” he said. “These guys feel like they’re getting hit with a hammer over and over.” He worries that it’s getting harder for lobstermen to stay in business. Luckily, he said, the co-op has a solid core of dedicated members. “They put a lot of work into it and a lot of their time. They own it. As long as they want the co-op to be, it will be,” he said. Robbins is pretty dedicated himself. “This is where I grew up. Ninety percent of the people I’m in contact with every day, I’ve known my whole life. You really can’t ask for a better situation.” 4 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION November 2009 Lobstering life on Little Cranberry By Hanna Wheeler Conversations with Richard Howland of Little Cranberry Island can bounce from one subject to another. But hang on for the ride because what he has to say is insightful, heartfelt and hilarious. Howland himself is a mosaic of seemingly contradictory traits. He lives in Ilesford on Little Cranberry—a tiny island about three-quarters the size of the University of Maine’s Orono campus—yet he has traveled around the world including parts of South America. He didn’t come from a fishing family but he worked his way up to become one of the island’s top fishermen. And he started out as a high school drop-out but is now a respected community member with key responsibilities including president of the Cranberry Isles fishermen’s co-op and Constable for the town of Cranberry Isles. Howland, age 26, fishes with Scorpio’s Lady, a 42-foot Bruno and Stillman. The boat is the same boat he worked on for four years as a sternman beginning when he was 14. “I love that boat; I’ve got a connection to it,” he said. He started lobstering with a student license when he was 11. When he was 14, he dropped out of high school. The high school principal, who lived on Great Cranberry, helped Howland find an alternative high school program that would allow him to get his degree while continuing to lobster. “I owe a lot to him,” Howland said. After a full day of sterning, Howland would then haul his own traps. When he was 18, he decided to go out on his own. He bought a 36-foot boat and progressively worked his way up over the years to 800 traps. It was time to get a bigger boat and the Scorpio’s Lady just happened to be for sale. Buying the boat from his former captain and mentor “was an emotional moment for both of us.” It was Howland’s 23rd birthday. Bait Sources Living on Little Cranberry, population 77, is not for everybody, Howland said. Howland joked that, “There are three ways to get a woman to break up with you: tattoo her name on you, name a boat after her, or move her out to Ilesford.” Howland gives back to the community whenever he can. He has been Constable of the town Cranberry Isles (which includes Little Cranberry, Great Cranberry and Sutton) since the age of 22. “I’m the perfect man for the job,” he joked. “There aren’t a lot of younger guys around here.” Besides, he continued, “the island runs itself.” Then, in all seriousness, he explained that, “You’ve got to approach it right.” “When it comes to crunch time, I’m good at handling those situations,” he said. When asked about the biggest issues facing young lobstermen, Howland rattled off a list. “The bait situation; we’re going to be faced with the costs,” he said. “During those boom years, when I got into the industry, we got used to using tons of bait.” He is skeptical of switching to a different bait fish. “Herring is what we need. It’s my recipe,” he said. Howland said he tells his crew that making a bait bag and taking care of the lobster product are the most important things they can do on a boat. Lobstermen will also face increasing fuel costs. “We fish with diesel engines; we need fuel.” Though fuel costs have fallen compared to 2008’s spike, Howland says he wouldn’t be surprised to see fuel prices climb back up again. “We’re helpless without fuel,” he said. He said he was glad he’d gone with a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine for his boat. Many problems, he said, stem from the increasing number of regulations intended to protect endangered North American right whales or to protect the Atlantic Herring stock. Howland still sees a lot of day-to-day struggles with the sinking groundline requirement that went into effect April Continued from page 1 having it all together in one place. “We need to know what’s going on so we can measure the impact if we lose a lot of herring,” she said. “How much are we going to lose and what can we replace it with? We are fighting hard not to lose those fish, but there are no guarantees. We need to be prepared.” Bait shortages will negatively impact coastal communities and could have statewide and national repercussions because of the significance of the Maine lobster industry. In 2008, the Maine lobster industry was worth roughly $240 million and accounted for 79 percent of US lobster landings. Prior to the recession, lobster landings were valued at over $300 million. Maine issued 5,538 commercial lobster licenses. Nearly half (48 percent) of active lobstermen are in Downeast Maine (Zones A, B, C), 30 percent are in Midcoast Maine (Zones D, E) and 22 percent are in Southern Maine (Zones F, G). Herring provides the bulk of the Maine lobster industry’s bait—about 70 percent. Maine’s bait dealers mostly depend upon local herring from the inshore area (Area 1A). Many small communities, such as Port Clyde , are supplied fresh 2009. “I’m parting gear off left and right. I traded in rope and I did the best I could, but we’re getting a lot of pressure.” Lobstermen have been left out of the rule-making “I love that boat; I’ve got a connection to it.” --Richard process, explained Howland Photo: Richard Howland Howland. “I’ve go harder than hell. We just love going,” been to quite a few meetings; they just seem like a formal- said Howland. Howland would like to see lobsterity,” he said. Howland thinks fishermen have men band together more though the infalsely been made out to be villains. “We dependent nature of lobstermen makes make our living from the ocean,” he this difficult. “At the end of the day, it’s up to the lobstermen to create their own said. “We don’t want to mess it up.” Finally, lobstermen are contending with fate,” he said. Right now is an especially busy time low prices for their lobster. “The people with a family and a big boat payment are for Maine’s lobstermen. “I’m on the scraping by,” said Howland. Lobstermen boat for 14 to 15 hours a day. This is don’t have a voice in setting the price of when you make your money,” said Howlobster, Howland explained. “I can’t think land. “I always get happy this time of of many other situations where you bring year,” he added. Howland said he likes what he does the product in and you get told what you’re because it is independent, self-discigoing to get for it,” he said. Despite the struggles, lobstermen plined, and traditional. “There’s a feeling keep going out, in part because they love of pride just being behind the wheel. And what they do. “We keep working. We’ll the harder you work, the better you do.” herring by local vessels which offload fish in port. A lack of available fish from the inshore area would result in a severe bait shortage for many remote communities along the Maine coast. Downeast fishermen are more dependent on herring from the Canadian weir fishery due to their proximity to that supply source. Supplies from the weir fishery fluctuate due to the changing behavior of the schools of fish and the fixed nature of the weir fishery. For example the weir fishery landed more than 30,000 metric tons in 2007 but only 6,000 metric tons in 2008. The price of herring has crept up steadily. According to Maine DMR, in 2006, the average boat price of herring was $0.11 per pound. In 2008, it was $0.13 per pound. Considering that the Maine lobster industry goes through more than 132 million pounds of herring a year, that’s a significant increase. Lobstermen pay above the boat price for bait. MLA price report data indicates that lobstermen paid about $0.28 per pound of herring in 2008. As the price for herring increased, lobstermen used less of it by reducing the amount of bait used per haul and by substituting other bait fish. In 2006, lobstermen used 2.5 pounds of herring per trap haul. In 2008, they used 2.1 pounds. Besides herring, pogies are the most frequently-used Continued on page 9 Tailored financing specifically for your needs. New Boat Construction Used Boat Loans Traps & Gear Loans Refinancing & Repowering For All Your Marine Financing Needs Contact Jim Amabile 1-800-974-9995 A Katahdin Trust Company Affiliate 15 Pleasant Hill Road Scarborough, Maine 04074 November 2009 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 5 The power of organizations By Julianne Curry, Petersburg, Alaska There is something to be said for strength in numbers. As commercial fishermen, we have all witnessed the effects of regulations and policy-making. Some good, some bad, some just plain ugly. We have all also witnessed “that guy” down at the docks or at the coffee shop complaining about regulations and policy-making. Ironically, the people who do the most complaining are usually the least involved in the regulatory process. When stopped on the street by one of the uninvolved complainers, the first thing I ask is if they have joined an organization or group that represents their interests; unfortunately, the most common answer is no. Commercial fishing organizations are some of the most influential forces in guiding regulations and policy. Supporting an active organization can mean the difference between your fishing business surviving and it being regulated to death. Supporting an active organization can mean the difference between your fishing business surviving and it being regulated to death. Organizations monitor and participate in the regulatory process on your behalf, allowing fishermen to spend more time doing what they do best: fishing. Many organizations are run by a director who spends countless hours communicating, fact checking, building relationships, and attending meetings to ensure the needs of the membership are met and fisheries are protected. Information is gathered and distributed to keep members up to date on current legislation, issues being addressed at the regional management councils, and actions discussed at the state level. While you are fishing, public policy continues requiring eyes, ears, and a voice to represent you and your livelihood. Organizations can provide a lifeline for your fishing business through information and representation. Commercial fishermen are facing adversity from all directions. Environmental groups, the global economy, allocation battles, safety concerns, media misinformation, sportfishing interests, and politics all threaten the fishing industry. Having a good organization on your PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JULIANNE CURRY side is often the best defense in protecting your business, and chances are there is a group out there that represents your fishery (or fisheries) and interests. There are four basic types of organizations: national, umbrella, local, and gear groups. National organizations, such as Commercial Fishermen of America (www.cfafish.org), tackle issues facing the commercial fishing industry in a broad manner. Because national organizations have a diverse membership, they can advocate for larger issues like health care for fishing families and educating the public on the role of the fishing industry. Umbrella organizations, such as United Fishermen of Alaska (www.ufa-fish.org), typically represent a collaboration of groups and individuals working toward a common goal. UFA represents 37 Alaska commercial fishing organizations and 375 individual members Julianne holds two black cod caught off the Southeast Alaska coast. from fisheries throughout Alaska and its offshore wa- Concerned fishermen usually serve on the board of ters. Umbrella groups that work on a majority or con- directors, so consider getting involved and volunteersensus basis can be very effective on issues that affect ing for a seat if you are looking for change within an a wide range of fisheries or communities, but they may organization. not be focused on specific or local issues. Guest Column Local organizations, such as the Petersburg Vessel Owners Association (www.pvoaonline.org), represent community-based interests and typically advocate for the health of various fisheries and coastal communities. The membership of the Petersburg association reflects the diversity of the fishing fleet in Southeast Alaska, including seiners, gillnetters, trollers, longlinters, and crabbers. Gear groups tend to be fishery specific and can range from the largest trawlers to the smallest trollers. These groups are effective with allocative matters and provide the critical role of bringing issues to umbrella organizations to enlist broader support. Find an organization that represents your interests by talking to fishermen you trust, attending a meeting, visiting the website, meeting the director, and reading the mission statement to figure out where your ideals and ideas fit. Keep in mind that not everyone within a group will agree, and you won’t always get what you want. Keep in mind that not everyone within a group will agree, and you won’t always get what you want. Thinking of not joining an organization because you can’t afford it? Most organizations have different membership levels to fit your budget. Consider if your fishing business could be better off with the support of a respected group that influences policy and regulation with hard work and passion for the issues. Better yet, consider if your fishing business is already benefiting from the actions of organizations—but you just haven’t joined yet. Julianne Curry fishes in Southeast Alaska. She is director of the Petersburg Vessel Owners Association, subsistence chair for the United Fishermen of Alaska and serves on the board of directors of the Halibut Coalition and Petersburg Marine Mammal Center. This letter originally appeared in the October issue of National Fisherman. It is reprinted here with permission. Maine narrows search for wind energy demonstration sites The Maine Department of Conservation (DOC) has selected four small areas in state waters along the Maine coast that could serve as demonstration areas for testing new offshore wind energy technologies. In each of the four draft sites, a commercial developer would be limited to testing a maximum of two deep water, offshore wind turbines, and could also host demonstrations of new wave energy technology. Four small portions of the planning areas off Boon Island, Damariscove Island, Monhegan Island and Cutler have been identified as candidates to host offshore wind energy demonstration projects, including the one for which the University of Maine recently received an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The draft sites announced today comprise only a small area within the original and much larger areas identified earlier this summer. “Since July we’ve had almost twenty intensive meetings with stakeholders, seeking detailed feedback, said Robert Marvinney, state geologist. “We got the feedback. Public participation has been outstanding, and using information from fishermen, boaters, fish and wildlife biologists and other stakeholders, we designed an objective ranking system. That enabled us to narrow things down, and preliminarily select four much smaller areas that total just seven square miles, each ranging from one to two square miles.” Kathleen Leyden, director of the Maine Coastal Program at the State Planning Office, is responsible for working with various stakeholders to ensure a healthy coast and vibrant coastal communities. She said the extensive outreach process this summer and fall enabled designation of the four draft sites to be done as collaboratively as possible. “We were well aware before we even started that Maine’s coastal waters are a heavily used resource, by fishermen, birds, marine mammals, sailors, you name it, the list goes on,” Leyden said. Legislation passed unanimously in June mandates that the Department of Conservation and the State Planning Office work together to identify between one and five demonstration sites for offshore wind in Maine’s coastal waters. The sites will serve as locations for the testing of all the compoSee Wind on page 15 6 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION November 2009 PHOTO: ZACK BOWEN Reconsider the lobster By Mark Andrew Boyer What could be more simple than fishing? You catch what nature provides, and toss back what you don’t need. At least that’s the way it was until every 7-Eleven and gas station mini-mart started selling spicy tuna rolls, and scientists observed that the oceans were overfished and gutted of our favorite species. Now, a trip to the fish counter at the supermarket is riddled with complexity. If you want to understand where your food comes from, you have to go beyond the supermarket, and go straight to the source. With that premise, Dorothée Royal-Hedinger (the host) and I (the cameraman) launched OrganicNation.tv in April, and we set out on a nationwide road trip, documenting the sustainable food movement in a series of three- to five-minute videos. On the East Coast Tour, which wrapped up about a week ago, we headed out to the wharves of Maine to find out how lobster fishing can be sustainable, both for the oceans and the fishermen. The difficulty with making the decision to buy lobster—or any seafood—is that the USDA doesn’t have an acrossthe-board certification for seafood telling consumers what fish has been raised and harvested sustainably, as it does for landbased food. The next best option is to check the seafood advisory lists, which can be pretty confusing too. For example, the Environmental Defense Fund says that Maine lobster is “ECO-OK” and Seafood Watch calls Maine lobster a “good alternative,” but the The Marine Conservation Society gives lobster its worst rating (five out of five), warning of overfishing. We found some answers at the Common Ground Country Fair, where we caught up with lobster fisherman Ty Babb, whose blazing red hair and ruddy cheeks resemble the crustaceans he hunts. After some banter, Babb smacked a lobster trap on the ground between us and started explaining what “sustainability” means to his operation. According to Babb, lobster is fished sustainably when fishermen ensure that healthy populations are maintained by not harvesting too many lobsters at once. Lobster populations are indeed on the rise, an accomplishment that should be attributed to both fishermen and regulators. State laws restrict the size—both minimum and maximum—of lobsters that can be sold and traps are required to have escape valves that enable lobsters at the low end of the size requirement to escape. A major concern in keeping lobster trapping sustainable is the sheer number of traps on the ocean floor. Lobstermen can set up to 800 traps, and each year thousands of lobster traps are lost, leaving the ocean floor littered with what are known as “ghost traps.” In 1990, a law was passed requiring all traps to be equipped with a biodegradable “ghost panel,” enabling trapped lobsters to eventually escape from lost traps, but that only solves part of the problem. More recently, a group of scientists conducted an experiment on Monhegan Island that could ultimately help clean up the ocean floor. According to Babb, “They used half as many traps, and they went out and caught almost the same amount in the first year.” Cutting down the number of active traps would also reduce the number of end lines—the ropes which connect the traps to the buoys—in the water. According to a recent Boston Globe story, 323 whales became entangled in fishing gear between 1997 and 2007. On the other side of the equation, the fishermen are suffering, and there are fewer plans in place to help ensure their survival. Not only is the price per pound of lobster incredibly low, but scientists are urging the state to reduce the region’s herring catch limit by more than half. Herring is the primary bait used by lobstermen. While limiting the catch will be great for the environment, it will drive up the price of bait, adding to the difficulties faced by fishermen. Although the Maine coast looks a lot different than some of the other places we’ve covered with the OrganicNation.tv project, the lobster industry shares some major similarities with other parts of the food landscape. The challenge, both on land and in the ocean, is to produce food using limited resources and causing the least harmful impact. The lobster industry in Maine is making major strides towards reaching both of those goals. If you’re feeling indecisive at the seafood counter, Maine lobster is a selection you can make with pretty clear conscience. Mark Andrew Boyer is one half of the team at OrganicNation.tv, a project that explores the landscape of American sustainable food. This article originally appeared in GOOD Magazine. It is reprinted here with permission. November 2009 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 7 For the love of fishermen By Monique Coombs On a typical Friday or Saturday evening I can be found on Bailey Island at a very special place called happy hour. It’s not a typical happy hour in a bar with quarter draughts, stools and a bartender. This happy hour exists at a private shop with an old VW bug, a backhoe, an occasional boat, lots of tools, a couple of refrigerators and a bunch of chairs for anyone who happens to stop by. There are a few regulars and I am proud to say I am one of them. Starting around three on Friday afternoons my 4-year old daughter starts to ask when it will be time to go to happy hour. Not a typical request for a 4-year old, I know, but I’ll get to that. I start to pack a bag with her snacks, a bottle of juice, a bottle for her baby brother and a few other things. We get in the car around four and drive across the bridge to our Friday meeting place. The workday is winding down at the shop and the couple of people that are there are taking a seat in the white plastic chairs that are strewn about the shop. Beers are Jocelyne helps her dad with the traps. cracked, feet are put up and the stories, hardships, jokes and travels of the week are shared. Inevitably, conversations of fishing, boat prices, fuel, busted reverse gears and the good ol’ days ensue. There is usually a dog or two running about at happy hour and as I mentioned my daughter comes and is usually riding her bike or playing with her Barbies that we leave there for her. My son, hopefully, sleeps in his car seat and if we are lucky someone brings snacks: smoked fish, crabmeat dip or Helluva Good French Onion dip! It’s these guys at happy hour, my husband included of course, that make me proud to be a part of a fishing family and a fishing community. It was at this place called happy hour when a good friend of mine told me that it takes a special woman to be married to a fisherman. I told him that I couldn’t imagine being married to someone that wasn’t a fisherman. It’s these guys at happy hour, my husband included of course, that make me proud to be a part of a fishing family and a fishing community. They work hard, they take pride in their work, they love their work (most of the time!), and they show character and insight that I find uncommon these days. My husband starts Photo: Monique Coombs his day at 4 o’clock in the morning. He sits downstairs and enjoys a cup of coffee while he checks the weather. If the weather looks good, and even sometimes when it doesn’t look so good, he puts on his boots and grabs his lunch box and out the door he goes. I always listen for his truck to start and can hear him leave the driveway and make his way down the road to his boat. I wake up not-too-much later with our new baby boy and start my day. I keep an eye on the weather as well to gauge how worried I need to be about him that day, make some breakfast, get the kids ready to go, and it’s out the door to work, errands and preschool. This is my favorite time of year because I love to see the leaves change and feel the air get cool and crisp but it is a bittersweet time of year because I also know that soon instead of coming home late in the afternoon my husband will be coming home late in the evening. In an attempt to get a bigger and better catch he will go further off shore. And I worry now too because I’m afraid that his risks will be greater in an attempt to make up for such low boat prices. I make dinner every night and we sit down at the table to eat as family. On nights he is out fishing I listen constantly for the same sound I heard that morning but this time it is for my husband’s truck to enter our driveway and stop. Even on the nights he is late I sit down with our daughter and ask her about her day. I try to keep his meal warm for him because I know he appreciates that when he gets home the way I appreciate him for going out to work hard for his family. When he gets home I sit with him and ask him about his day and I listen even though sometimes I have no idea what he is talking about and what he is saying makes me nervous. MONIQUE COOMBS Lobstering, fishing, is tougher than ever right now. Low boat prices, new regulations, lack of money to fix the boat, fear of rising bait costs and little hope for the future make it a more trying time than ever. But, fishermen go fishing because that’s what they do and despite low costs or high costs they still have to go. That separates the fishermen from other men: an undying dedication and passion for their work, their hard work. It is not just a job it is a way of life. Character is the way that you act in a difficult situation, not an easy one, and right now I think fishermen are showing great character. And that makes me proud to be a fisherman’s wife. On Saturday we do it all over again just a little bit earlier. We head to happy hour about three for some more deserved rest, relaxation and good friends. Fishing always takes precedence and sometimes someone doesn’t come because they are out fishing but everyone knows they’ll see them the next week and hear about whatever fishing fiasco they got themselves into. Monique and her husband, Herman, live on Orr’s Island with their two children, Riley and Jocelyne. Read her blog at lobstersonthefly. blogspot.com She also published a lobster cookbook, titled Lobsters on the Fly, which can be purchased from her website. Still trying to solve the shrinkage mystery By Hanna Wheeler Twenty year ago, lobstermen and dealers relied on lobster pounds to store their product and help increase their profits. Today, high rates of lobster dieoff (shrinkage) make pounds a moneylosing venture. Dr. Brian Beal, director of research at the Downeast Institute on Beals Island, wants to find out why pounds aren’t working like they used to work. “The shrinkage rate is four to five times higher than it was 20 years ago,” said Beal. “Why is that? What’s going on in our pounds?” Beal’s hypothesis is that lobsters are handled differently due to today’s much higher catch rates. Higher catch rates speed up the physical handling of lobsters on the boat—potentially damaging the lobsters. Beal is most concerned with the storage of lobsters on the boat. Many lobster boat tanks have aeration systems that aren’t designed to hold large catches over a long number of hours, he explained. Beal is seeking funding to test his hy- pothesis. His study would match local lobstermen with aeration systems designed for high volumes. The Downeast Institute owns two working tidal lobster pounds which Beal would use to study the effects of lobster handling on shrinkage rates. So far, Beal has not found funding for the study but he is certain that the study would be useful to the lobster industry. “About 90 percent of the lobster pounds in Maine aren’t being used today but they were 20 years ago,” said Beal. “There’s potential to create economic opportunities.” Lobster pounds diversify the lobster industry, said Beal. He referenced last year’s drop in lobster prices as an example. “What choices did fishermen and dealers have? They could try to market them to the general public or sell them to Canada to process.” “Pounds have been ignored,” said Beal. “If they were part of the equation, it would provide another option for fishermen or dealers.” Herbert Hodgkins, former president of the now disbanded Maine Pound Owners Association, agrees that lobster pounds could be an asset. “If shrinkage could be solved, the pounds would come back,” he said. The Association disbanded last year due to the number of pounds going out of business. While Hodgkins seems wistful about the closure of so many pounds, he’s not giving up. Hodgkins still collaborates with University of Maine PHOTO: DOWNEAST INSTITUTE researchers to “try to solve the mystery.” Beal says he recognizes Downeast Institute has two lobster pounds available for research. that his is just one hypothThe mission of the Downeast Inesis and it could be wrong. stitute is to improve the quality of life But, he says, “this one seems practical for the people of downeast and coastal and fairly easy to test.” While Beal quests for funding, Maine through applied marine research, the Downeast Institute is renting the technology transfer, and public marine pounds to two local families. Beal says resource education. Formerly known as the Beals Ishe is pleased that lobstermen are “using land Regional Shellfish Hatchery, the the pounds the way they were intended Downeast Institute has studied and apto be used.” plied shellfish research for 19 years. 8 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION November 2009 Lobster license plates By Hanna Wheeler D rive around any coastal community and most of the license plates you will see are lobster specialty plates. With a boiled red lobster in the foreground and a wharf and buoys in the background, the lobster plate is a badge of pride for many of Maine’s lobstermen and lobstering community members. Lobster plates are $20 above and beyond the regular registration fee. Where does that extra money go? In 2008, sales of the lobster plates generated $403,195. That’s up from 2007’s total of $390,530. The Secretary of State’s office receives a portion of the sales to cover administrative costs. The remainder—roughly $250,000 a year— goes to what is dubbed the RED Fund. RED stands for Research Education and Development. When the lobster license plate was created in 2002, the Maine State Legislature formed the RED Fund within the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR). The DMR Commissioner appoints members of the RED Board to oversee the fund. According to Maine state statutes, Continued from page 4 bait fish. In 2006, pogies made up only seven percent of the bait used by lobstermen. That figure climbed to 19 percent by 2008. Pogies sold as bait increased by 89 percent from 2006 to 2008 while the amount of herring sold as bait decreased by 47 percent. Lobstermen also consider red fish as an effective bait though they rank it third in preference mostly because of its price and availability. In 2008, lobstermen paid an average of $0.60 per pound of red fish—about double the price of herring. Sources of local redfish are very limited with total US landings in 2008 less than 1,100 mt (compared to 30,049 mt of herring). Redfish racks and heads are imported predominantly from Canada with some product coming from Germany. Use of redfish as bait has increased only slightly from three percent in 2006 to four percent in 2008. Maine is currently advocating for the creation of an experimental redfish fishery which could land 9,000 mt. Can pogies provide a substitute for herring? The pogie fishery occurs along the coast from Maine to Florida. It’s an open access fishery with no catch quotas in place for the commercial bait fishery. Many states have regulations in place regulating gear type and vessel size. Peak landings are June through September with landings going strong through October. A fall fishery beginning in late November off the Virginia and North Carolina coasts can often see landings through February. The fishery may be strong in an area one year and not the next. About 75-80 percent of pogies landed are used to make fish meal and other products such as fish oil health supplements. The crab, lobster and hook and line fisheries all use pogey bait to varying degrees. Typically, bait landings from Virginia and Maryland are sold to the crab the Board must have members representing different factions of the lobster industry, including “a statewide association representing the interests of persons who harvest lobster commercially,” an “association representing the interests of persons who harvest lobster commercially in Washington and Hancock counties” and a “southern Maine association representing the interests of persons who harvest lobster commercially.” The statutes also require representation from the Maine Lobster Promotion Council, the Lobster Advisory Council, dealers, processors and pound owners. The Board sets priorities for funding. The most recent round of proposals were due in February 2008. The Board set three priorities for research: examining the impact of alternative bait, studying how substances such as pesticides and contaminants affect lobster health, and identifying stressors on lobsters during their handling. Apfishery, while bait landings from New Jersey to Maine are sold to the lobster fishery. Landings from the South Atlantic are sold to crab and sports fishermen. Small amounts of pogies have been sold to Gulf States for use in crab and crawfish fisheries while some have been sold to African countries as food. If demand for pogey bait increases, more effort will be put on this fishery. However, the pogeyfishery is is largely a coastal fishery(state waters) meaning the larger vessels are likely to serve as carriers for the smaller seine boats. If the fish concentrate in nearshore waters, the larger vessels are likely to engage in the fishery. And if the fish are in offshore areas, the midwater fleet has the ability to catch pogies with the aid of spotter planes although the potential for this fishery is largely uncertain. The cost of pogies will most likely increase. Fishing vessels will require rerigging and fish caught outside of New England will require trucking or the use of carrier vessels. Moving bait by tractor trailer could limit access to bait by small communities. Smaller bait dealers don’t have the infrastructure and logistics in place for tractor trailers to unload. The smaller dealers will have to rely more on larger distributors for access to bait. Downeast fishermen are especially vulnerable since they are at the end of the trucking line. About two thirds of herring bait is caught June through December. Most of Maine lobster is caught July through November. Herring bait landed during the winter months can be salted and stored by those who have access to cooler storage. Herring that is salted and stored in coolers properly can last for about six months. Frozen herring is not a preferred bait source. Many feel it is not effective in catching lobsters, it is more expensive than plicants could request up to $50,000 to study one of the three topics. The two priorities for development were analyzing the bait industry and researching consumers’ buying habits and their seafood preferences. The Board’s single priority for education was the creation of a program that could help interested lobstermen learn business management skills. The Board approved three proposals. Dr. Deborah Bouchard at the University of Maine received $45,609 to study lobster stressors. Dr. Ian Bricknell at the University of Maine received $42,181 to study health risks of different lobster baits. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) received $49,865 to organize LobsterBiz workshops and help lobstermen with financial planning. No development proposals were funded. Also, the Board approved $250,000 to fund DMR lobster research and monitoring programs including the sea sampling program, port sampling, ventless trap surveys and the lobster settlement index. Federal funding cuts had threatened the future of these programs. Wanting to further the efforts of the Governor’s Task Force on the Economic sustainability of Maine Lobster Industry, the RED Board approved the release of up to $300,000 to implement the recommendations of the task force. Within that $300,000 is $40,000 for instate advertising and $260,000 for advertising and research projects. A transition team of the Task Force will oversee the use of the funds. GMRI has posted its LobsterBiz materials on their website (gmri.org under “community”). Though they originally planned to have only one LobsterBiz workshop, they were able to leverage funding from other sources in order to have another workshop later in the winter. Call 228-1645. The two research projects funded by the RED Fund are slated to conclude by the end of October. However, they may request an extension. HYDRO-SLAVE SAME DAY SERVICE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT “THINKING OF BUILDING A NEW BOAT?” LET US QUOTE YOU ON A POWER STEERING OR A POT HAULER. HAULERS AVAILABLE 8” TO 17” • ALUMINUM BACKPLATE • POLISHED STAINLESS BACKPLATE • ALL STAINLESS HARDWARE POWER STEERING AVAILABLE IN 5 CLASSES • UP TO 120 FEET • STAINLESS QUADRANT ASSEMBLIES • STAINLESS HELMS 16” SPOKED WHEEL • BRONZE • CHROME ELECTRIC CLUTCHES HIGH EFFICIENCY VANE PUMP $544.70 5.5 HP HONDA POWER UNIT • 11GPM @ 1500 PSI 2 Stage Pump • Light, Versatile and Portable • This unit will power 10” and 12” and 14” Haulers • Ideal for outboards and other small boats • Log Splitter DUAL RAM QUADRANT ASSEMBLY • 100% Stainless Steel construction • Rudder side thrust eliminated • no stress on boat timbers OUR NEW GENERATION SUPER BLOCKS • 4” Low LIP and HI LIP • 5” Low LIP and HI LIP • 2000 lb. 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Federal law requires fishermen to contact licensed marine mammal rescue workers to disentangle any entangled whale. Fishermen are prohibited from doing it themselves. The Marine Mammal Protection Act protects all marine mammals including whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, seal lions and walruses. People may not “take” marine mammals, meaning they cannot hunt, harass, capture or kill them without valid permits. The Endangered Species Act also prohibits “taking” endangered marine mammals but defines “taking” more broadly. Under its provisions, in addition to not being able to hunt, harass, capture or kill endangered marine mammals, people, entities, and federal and state agencies may not harm, pursue, shoot, wound, trap, or collect a listed endangered species without a valid permit. The Humpback, North American right whale, and the fin whale are listed as endangered species. These restrictions apply to government agencies and scientists as well. NOAA can issue permits for scientific research, for take incidental to commercial fishing, and for public display at licensed institutions such as aquaria and science centers. Lobstermen are not required to obtain permits to fish because commercial lobstering is regulated under the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. The NOAA’s Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement enforces these laws. Violators face criminal and civil sanctions, including stiff fines, imprisonment, and potential forfeiture of their fishing license. The Endangered Species Act also allows interested parties to file civil suits—meaning people can sue NOAA in order to compel them to enforce the law or even sue individual violators of the law. Violators of the Endangered Species Act can be subject to penalties of up to $25,000 per count per day. ® Such was the situation for Massachusetts fisherman, Dan Holmes. Max Strahan, who calls himself the Prince of Whales, sued Holmes for $1.1 million in 2007 because a humpback whale became entangled in Holmes’ whale-compliant gear. The whale was successfully disentangled and swam away unharmed. Usually, the names of fishermen involved in entanglement cases are kept confidential. However, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) was courtordered to release Holmes’ name to Strahan during a case filed by Strahan against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The court concluded that Holmes violated the Endangered Species Act because his gear did “take” a whale, reported Commercial Fisheries News in a March 2009 article. The fact that it was accidental was not relevant, the court said. The court, which has jurisdiction to take away fishing permits, did not ban Holmes from fishing. According to the Commercial Fisheries News article, the judge wrote that banning Holmes from fishing would cause him more harm than any harm Holmes’ gear could potentially do to a whale in the future. Though tactics such as Strahan’s are extreme and seldom deployed, they are possible through Section 11 of the Endangered Species Act. The Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan was enacted in 1997 to help reduce whale entanglements in fishing gear. The Plan created gear restrictions such as sinking groundlines and a weak link in the buoy line with a limited breaking strength. Whales are also injured by ship strikes. In 2008, NOAA implemented a plan to reduce the threat of ship collisions with right whales. Vessels must maintain a distance of 500 yards from a right whale to avoid a whale strike. Vessels over 65 feet long must obey speed restrictions by slowing to ten knots in areas known to have large whales. These rules do not apply to vessels owned, operated or under contract to the federal government or state enforcement vessels engaged in law enforcement or search and rescue. :N_V[R =\dR_ @=206.916@0<B;A@<;.99 ;2D0<::2?06.92;46;2=B?05.@2@ Model C7 / Tier II C9 / Tier II C12 / Tier II C15 C18 / Tier II HP 460 500 / 575 660 / 700 800* / 850* 855 / 1000* Discount $2,000 $2,700 $3,400 $3,500 $4,000 2EA2;121@2?C6020<C2?.42 @.C2 " \[NYY[Rd2@0P\[a_NPa` *Remaining Tier I inventory For details and a price quote, please contact your Milton CAT Marine Engine Sales Representative. Maine / New Hampshire: Stewart Tuttle 207-885-8082 Massachusetts / Rhode Island: Kevin Hampson 508-634-5503 www.miltoncat.com MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 9 On April 22 a federal research vessel for NOAA hit an endangered right whale off the coast of Massachusetts. The boat was traveling 22 miles per hour in four-foot seas when the whale surfaced about ten feet in front of it. Although NOAA investigated the situation, no one was fined or prosecuted. Fishing vessels account for a low percentage (0.3%) of known large whale ship strikes. According to NOAA’s 2004 “Large Whale Ship Strike Database,” Navy vessels accounted for the majority of whale strike incidents. Cargo ships (including container ships and freighters) whale-watching vessels, cruise ships, ferries, Coast Guard vessels, recreation vessels, steamships and tankers similarly account for more ship strikes than fishing vessels. As part of the Maine Whale Take Reduction Plan, the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) urges Maine fishermen to call in reports and sightings of whales and other marine mammals through a toll-free hotline (800-532-9551). The DMR then reports to the appropriate federal agencies and contacts responders, which may include DMR marine patrol officers and lobstermen who have completed disentanglement training. DMR also uploads the information into a web-based interactive program to inform fishermen of the known locations of whales so that precautionary measures can be taken. Fishermen should not attempt to disentangle a whale themselves. Instead, DMR’s Erin Summers advises Maine fishermen to report entangled whales directly to the Whale hotline by cell phone. If a fisherman is unable to contact the Whale hotline directly, he should instead contact the Coast Guard. Fishermen are required to stand by until responders arrive at the scene. This cooperation helps rescue teams locate the whale. DMR offers training to fishermen interested in learning basic disentanglement and standby protocols to aid in authorized disentanglement procedures. Anyone interested in such training should contact the DMR directly. 10 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION November 2009 Lobster Harvest Days connect customers with lobstermen By Hanna Wheeler C ommunities up and down the coast organized Lobster Harvest Day events throughout the month of October. The events underscored the importance of lobstering to Maine’s coastal communities at a time when lobstermen are faced with rising bait, fuel, and gear costs coupled with low lobster prices. Inspiration for Lobster Harvest Days came from the success of lobster buying days organized last year by volunteers in Stonington, Georgetown, Rockland, and other towns. The Maine Lobster Promotion Council supported this year’s volunteer efforts through statewide advertising, tee-shirt printing and flyer printing. PORT CLYDE The Port Clyde Fishermen’s Cooperative held their Lobster Harvest Day on October 10 from noon to 5:00 p.m. They sold 1,200 pounds of lobster— two times their original goal. Live lobster sold for $5 each, cooked lobster for $6, lobster rolls for $10 and lobster dinners for $10. Festival-goers enjoyed lobster dinners on the dock while listening to live music. The festival took place on the coop wharf—recently restored due to the cooperative efforts of local commercial fishermen, the state’s Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program, and the Island Institute. Proceeds from the event will go towards maintaining the working waterfront and furthering the lobstermen’s direct-marketing efforts. SCARBOROUGH (submitted by Sue Bayley of Bayley’s Lobster Pound) We at Bayley’s Lobster Pound participated in Lobster Harvest Days this year by offering small lobsters at $5 each and mediums at $6 each, live or cooked. Customer response was good and a few customers learned of the event through the Maine Lobster Promotion Council’s advertisements. We ran the promotion in our retail market on Saturday and Sunday of Columbus Day weekend. We also sent emails and advertised in local newspapers. For those two days alone we sold about 2,000 pounds of lobsters. That is a little less than we sold last year for the same weekend. Last year was a particularly good Columbus Day weekend because the reduced retail price of lobsters was still a novelty to consumers and was creating a buzz. Though the prices this year were good, and Canadian Thanksgiving was the same weekend, which helps a lot here in Pine Point, it seems that customers have become desensitized to low prices. Customers responded positively to selling lobster at a set price rather than a per pound price. We were genuinely surprised at how positively people reacted to the $6 each mediums. Overall, the combination of decent weather and the holiday weekend helped us more than the state-wide advertising. The vast majority of our customers were from Boston or Canada, and they were less likely to have heard the promotional spots. Though we did draw local customers, more than one of them remarked seeing roadside signs for $3.49 and questioned the $5 price. BATH Gilmore’s Sea Foods held their Lobster Harvest Day on October 11. Lobsters sold for $5 live or cooked. They sold between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds. Ben Gilmore of Gilmore’s Sea Foods reports that they were pleased with the results. California siblings enjoy lobster in Port Clyde. Photo: Steve Cartwright STONINGTON (information taken from a SLWG press release) The Stonington Lobster Working Group (SLWG) held its second annual “Lobster Sale on the Pier” on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1:00. Live, 1 lb to 1-1/4 lb lobsters sold for $5.25 each on the Stonington Fish Pier in the middle of town. The lobster working group set the price at a level that reflects the value of the catch to the island’s lobster industry and the Deer Isle-Stonington community as a whole. The lobsters, all caught by the local fleet, were provided through the cooperation of the Stonington Lobster Co-op with the support of all the island’s private dealers. Proceeds from the day’s sale were donated to the Island Food Pantry and the Island Heating Assistance Program. The first “Lobster Sale on the Pier” was held in October of 2008, when the price of lobster was in a free-fall due to the international financial crisis. It was held to raise the general public’s awareness of the local lobster industry. The Stonington Lobster Working Group is a subgroup of the town’s Economic Development Committee. WINTER HARBOR The Winter Harbor lobster co-op held a Lobster Harvest Day on October 11 from 9:00-3:30. Lobsters sold for $5 each live or cooked. They sold about 400 pounds of lobster. GEORGETOWN Georgetown residents held their first Lobsterman Appreciation Day at the Five Islands Lobster Company in 2008. The event was a success—bringing in approximately $14,000—and it encouraged the community to organize another event this year. Five Islands employee Georgia Watson-Kennett organized the event which was held October 17. She was disappointed by this year’s smaller turnout but they were still able to raise $8,216. Lobsters sold for $5 each, live or cooked. They also provided free coffee and desserts. RAYMOND Fishermen’s Catch in Raymond hosted a Lobster Harvest Day on October 24. Heavy downpours dampened the turnout so they ran the same specials on October 25. Fishermen’s Catch is donating 50 cents of each sale to Camp Sunshine—a retreat for children with lifethreatening illnesses. They sold about 40 lobster rolls and about 500 pounds of lobster on October 24. They sold about 350 pounds on October 25. Organizers of the event said they were happy with it and would do it again next year. Enforcement update: News from the DMR C area cited a fisherman for short lobsters that will result in a fine of over $5,000 under the new penalty structure. olonel Joe Fessenden directs the Maine Marine Patrol—the enforcement arm of the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR). Colonel Fessenden provided the information for this update. PERSONNEL CHANGES TRAP CUTTING During the last month, several instances of trap cutting in western Penobscot Bay have diverted Marine Patrol Officers from other areas of the state to address complaints in that area. CHANGES IN LOBSTER LAW VIOLATIONS Changes in the lobster violation laws went into effect in September. Examples include: an increase in the fine for the possession of scrubbed lobsters, the addi- tion of theft to the list of offenses for which a marine resources license may be suspended, and the increase in fines for the possession of short or over-sized lobsters. Find a description of the full list of lobster violation laws changes in the October issue of the MLA newsletter (www.mainelobstermen.org). Colonel Fessenden reported that officers have been routinely checking lobstermen and continue to find most fishermen in compliance. However, Marine Patrol Officer Daniel White in the Damariscotta/ Bristol Division 1, Section 1 (Kittery to Cape Elizabeth) Marine Patrol Sergeant Richard LaFlamme has left the BMP to join the Maine Warden Service. Sergeant Daryen Granata has been promoted and will replace LaFlamme. SINKING GROUNDLINE COMPLIANCE Colonel Fessenden reports that sinking groundline compliance is high coast wide. November 2009 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 11 DMR changes Lobster Council to market Canadian lobster reporting, seed T lobster programs T he Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) held a public hearing on October 26 and accepted written comments through November 6 on two proposed rulemakings affecting the lobster industry. The proposed rules will affect the Harvester Reporting Program and the Seed Lobster Permit Program. The proposed change to the Harvester Reporting Program will add “the number of strings hauled” to the reporting form in order to improve data collected on gear configurations for use in vertical line density estimates. The proposed change to the Seed Lobster Permit program will include changing the timing of the program season and disbursement of funds. Lobster pound owners who qualify for the Seed Lobster Fund Program are most directly impacted by the changes. Proposed changes to Seed Lobster Permit program have been reviewed and supported by the Lobster Advisory Council. The Seed Lobster Permit program is supported by lobster license fees. It ensures a good brood stock by purchasing egg-bearing females that produce eggs while in captivity. The program distributes these “seed lobsters” to Maine coastal waters and lobster hatcheries. he Lobster Council of Canada was announced in October at a meeting of the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers with the hope that it will revive the struggling Canadian lobster industry. The 16-member council, a marketing and promotional body, has members from the four Atlantic provinces, Quebec and First Nations. The Lobster Council of Canada, which began as a concept in 2007, is comprised of fishermen, processors and lobster buyers. Initial priorities of the Council include the development and implementation of a long-term marketing strategy, an active communications strategy with industry and the development of a self-funding model for the organization beyond the first two years. According to Ed Frenette, the executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, the industry is looking towards stability, “at fair and reasonable shore prices for our harvesters that will lead to proper prices in the marketplace for the processing sector,” reported the Journal Pioneer in an October 16 article. Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea, who announced the formation of the council, said the group would be responsible for several aspects of the lobster industry. “We have a finite resource here. We have 100 million pounds of lobster and we have to maximize the benefit to the region but we can’t do that if we’re always working against each other,” said Shea in an October 15 CBC News report. The Council headquarters will be based in Halifax and an executive director is now being recruited. The four Atlantic Provinces, the Government of Quebec and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will collectively provide about $370,000 in direct funding to the organization over the next two years. Visit www.lobstercouncilcanada.ca for more information. Maine requests federal assistance for shellfish industry M aine’s Congressional delegation jointly submitted a letter urging the US Department of Commerce to consider Governor John E. Baldacci’s request for federal assistance and declare a fisheries disaster for the Maine shellfish industry. The letter cited the closure of 97% of Maine’s shellfish beds over the spring and summer due to red tide as well as the closure of 100% of the offshore beds in federal waters. About 3,000 harvesters and dealers rely economically upon shellfish beds. The Maine Department of Marine Re- sources (DMR) estimates the value of the shellfish industry at approximately 450 million. The letter urged the Department of Commerce to make funds available. Nobel prize winner heralds success of Maine lobster industry E linor Ostrom has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics. In an interview with Nobelprize.org following the announcement of her award on October 12, Ostrom cited the experience of the Maine lobster industry as an example of how common management of common resources can be successful. “In the 1920s, they almost destroyed the lobster fishery. They regrouped and thought hard about what to do and over time developed a series of ingenious rules and ways of monitoring that have meant that the lobster fishery in Maine is among the most successful in the world,” she said. GOMLF to collect ghost gear The Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation (GOMLF) has been awarded a grant to begin a pilot project this winter to collect and dispose of ghost lobster gear along the Maine coast. Through this project, GOMLF will contract with local lobstermen to assist with the clean-up efforts. Funding is being provided by The Gulf of Maine Environmental Compli- ance and Protection Fund. The Fund is managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Criminal fines incurred by shipping companies who pollute in Maine waters feed into the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. DMR to collect gear density data T he Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is asking Maine lobstermen to fi ll out a gear density log as part of the annual lobster license renewal. According to the DMR, “this log will be used to determine the density of gear that exists in different fishing areas. The information will help managers determine if, where and how regulations are needed in an effort to avoid blanket measures that effect the entire industry.” Lobstermen are asked to complete the log by estimating the maximum traps fished and maximum vertical lines fished for each month of the previous year. The data will be collected according to the zone fished, further broken down into categories including: exempted state waters, non-exempted state waters, sliver, and federal waters. 12 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION November 2009 Maine Lobster Chef of the Year crowned An update from the Maine Lobster Promotion Council T Mackenzie Arrington is the 2009 Maine Lobster Chef of the year. By Hanna Wheeler B oothbay Harbor native Mackenzie Arrington is winner of this year’s Maine Lobster Chef of the Year contest. His roasted Maine lobster tail on braised cabbage with cornbread got him the title and a $1,000 check from the Maine Lobster Promotion Council. Arrington is 22 and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America just a week before the event. He is the son of last year’s winner, Margaret McLellan. Contestants prepared their dishes in front of an audience, cooking-show style, with Kathleen Shannon of WCSH-TV emceeing the event. “I could’ve eaten a whole tray of that,” said Yarmouth lobsterman Elliot Thomas after sampling Arrington’s winning dish. The chef contest is sponsored by the Maine Lobster Promotion Council. Marianne LaCroix Photo: Hanna Wheeler of the promotion council said, “The lobster industry has received an incredible amount of positive press coverage as a result of the event.” The sold-out event was part of Harvest on the Harbor. This is the first year that the contest has been open to the public. Harvest on the Harbor promotes Maine as a food-lovers destination. It is organized by the Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau. Arrington reminded the audience of the contribution that Maine fishermen make to the culinary world. “When you buy your lobster, go straight to the source. Support your local lobstermen,” he said. Shannon’s opening remarks also highlighted the connection between the high class event and Maine lobstermen. “Hopefully, this will give the lobster industry a boost,” she said. he Maine Lobster Promotion Council is running a marketing campaign designed to increase awareness of and demand for Maine Lobster as a fall food. The campaign has several related components, including advertising, events and public relations. The MLPC expanded the fall advertising program through a grant from the Research, Education and Development Fund and additional funds authorized for the purpose from the MLPC Board. They developed a television ad featuring lobstermen Clive Farrin and John Ready that will run from mid-October until Thanksgiving. The MLPC reports that they are limiting the advertising campaign to Maine markets in order to take advantage of desirable advertising rates and proven effectiveness with an audience predisposed to support the lobster industry. The MLPC’s annual ‘Maine Lobster Chef of the Year’ competition, traditionally held in the summer, was moved to fall this year to highlight the peak lobster harvest season. The MLPC opened the event to the public to allow for dramatically increased publicity and more first-hand exposure. The event was held October 23 as a part of Harvest on the Harbor, one of the country’s top fall wine and food festivals. Throughout October, local communities hosted Maine Lobster Harvest Days events. The MLPC supported the communities’ efforts with a two-week radio campaign, print advertising and posters. Consumers were very positive about the flat rate pricing. The MLPC generated media coverage for the fall advertising campaign, the Maine Lobster Chef of the Year event and the Maine Lobster Harvest Days. Publications such as the Working Waterfront, the Portland Press Herald, and the Associated Press carried articles about MLPC activities. Press releases and news articles are on the MLPC’s website under ‘News.’ The MLPC highlights positive developments within the lobster industry and works to minimize negative publicity whenever possible. November 2009 Maine restaurateurs and Maine lobstermen, a common bond By Richard Grotton Maine restaurateurs and Maine lobster harvesters have a great deal in common. They are both fiercely independent, and both rely on seasonal customers whose behaviors can be greatly affected by outside influences like the weather and the economy. This has been a difficult year for everyone. Every industry has its own set of cost components that those outside the industry simply do not understand. Lobster harvesters and restaurant operators have this in common as well. Some might believe that because lobster harvesters pluck their catch from the sea the product is free. They see a sign on a pickup truck beside the road offering lobster at $3.50 a pound and assume it is all profit. What they don’t consider are the costs involved in obtaining a license, buying, repairing and replacing traps and line, bait costs, the cost of buying and maintaining a boat and its equipment and fuel. Once you add it up, that free lobster gets pretty costly. They assume the traps are full on every trip. And, they surely don’t understand the toll it takes on the body to do that work season after season. The harvester is truly the only one who understands the costs involved and where that all-important breakeven point comes. Similarly, those not in the restaurant business do not understand all of the costs associated with purchasing, preparing and serving products like lobster. It is easy to understand why the lobster harvester might wonder, if the price of lobster is so low/less than in recent memory/at an all-time low, why aren’t prices for lobster-based menu items falling too? A well-run restaurant simply must operate within a range of 30% to 36% food cost in order to cover the extensive labor, energy, insurance, rent or mortgage and tax expenses required to produce a 3% -6% bottom line pre-tax profit (based on national averages). Historically, lobster is a product that is expensive for a restaurant to obtain, but also costly in terms of preparation and space to store, rotate, and serve. Despite these challenges, the majority of Maine restaurants are committed to featuring the state’s edible icon because lobster enjoys strong consumer demand. Therefore, the restaurant is obliged to have lobster available, almost regardless of the purchase price, in order to satisfy the consumer in search of their special summer treat. Depending on market conditions, the contribution to restaurant profit is sometimes meager at best. A typical restaurant paid between $3.50 and $5.00 a pound for new shell product this summer depending on their source of supply, boat versus dealer price, and proximity to the coast. Utilizing those prices while understanding the need to maintain a maximum 36% food cost, a typical restaurant would price the meal in this fashion: Calculating the average lobster cost at $4.25/lb x 1.25 lbs. = $5.3125 raw lobster food cost. Add drawn butter, side salad, chips, and utensils and you arrive at a combined food cost of $7.2825. This would result in a $20.25 retail price for the meal ($7.2825 is 36% food cost of $20.25). All of that retail price except for $1.01 (5% profit) goes to pay the overhead. When you apply the same calculations to the more expensive hard shell lobster with an average summer price of $7.00 a pound or more the combined food cost goes to $10.72 and the restaurateur is looking at a menu price of $29.00 for the meal. Many Maine restaurants charge less per lobster meal than the food cost equation suggests, featuring new shells at $14.95 and hard shells at $24.00. Their food cost in this case is much higher than other items on the menu and that important contribution to profit all but disappears in the overhead and labor if they aren’t selling in quantity. So while the lobster harvester may expect that because the price of lobster was lower this year than in the past, the above example explains that this year was the year when many restaurants broke even, or did not lose money on the lobster meals they served. The restaurant industry is very aware that this has been a difficult year for the lobster trade. Because of that, the Maine Restaurant Association repeatedly encouraged our restaurant members to feature lobster specials, and to buy and use more lobster product then ever, and many did. In so many ways, the good fortunes of lobster harvesters and restaurateurs in Maine rely on similar factors, for ours is a tourism based economy and our summer guests identify the flavor of Maine with lobster. We are highly supportive of the harvesters who catch them and the dealers who stock them and make them readily available to our restaurants. Representing the restaurant industry, we are proud of the restaurant’s role in marketing and promoting lobster to more than 32 million Maine visitors each year! Guest Column ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS CARD IN THE MLA NEWSLETTER Richard Grotton is president and CEO of the Maine Restaurant Association. MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 13 14 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION November 2009 Meeting Round-up ZONE F (September 30) Yarmouth, ME: The Zone F Council members discussed the potential impacts of the anticipated cut in herring quota beginning in 2010. Members expressed general concern over the potential for herring shortages and increases in bait prices. Many were not alarmed because the majority of Zone F lobstermen fish with pogies. The issues of the Zone F/G buffer and double-tagging requirement were raised as a point of ongoing frustration for many Zone F lobstermen. The Zone F sentiment is that their interests were not adequately represented in previous discussions of the zone lines. A Zone F representative will raise this issue the next Zone G meeting. Members are concerned that the Zone G Council will not entertain proposals on this topic. Informal discussions with Zone G lobstermen will be pursued to identify potential solutions. Several topics relating to improving the lobster market and price were discussed. A proposal to positively impact the lobster market by taking Saturdays and Sundays off was not supported. A proposal to change the gauge mid-season as a way to land less lobster and improve quality was discussed, and feedback will be solicited at the district level for future discussion. The DMR has not submitted legislation to form a new lobster science and marketing entity, which would have required a shared contribution from harvesters and dealers. Zone F expressed the need to understand the potential return on any investment made by lobstermen for future marketing. DMR provided several updates. • Trap tag fees will remain the same for next year, but they could increase in the future due to budget shortfalls. • The DMR has submitted a bill to allow processors the flexibility to process a full array of lobster products including. • License renewals will include a log to estimate the amount of vertical lines fished to help with the whale plan. • There are no ocean energy test sites anticipated for the Zone F area. • There has been no opposition to ASMFC’s Addendum XV to limit new effort into the Area 1 lobster fishery. If this is implemented, only Area 1 permits with trap history during the qualification period will be able to fish. • Several environmental groups have submitted a petition to expand critical whale habitat in the Gulf of Maine. DMR has proposed minor changes to rules for harvester reporting and the Seed Lobster Permit program. The next Zone F meeting is schedule for December 3 at 6pm. ZONE D (October 8) Rockland, ME: The Zone D Council re-elected existing officers for another year. Significant discussion was held around the anticipated cut in herring quotas beginning next year. Many expressed that this will come down to survival of the fittest. Those with enough money to afford bait will survive; others will not. Others were very concerned about the availability of bait next year and discussed ideas to decrease the lobster industry’s demand for bait. Specifically, the issue of the quality of summer lobsters was raised. The Council discussed the potential to reduce fishing effort when the lobster product is poor as way to decrease bait demand. Possibilities include seasonal restrictions, shorter work weeks or fewer traps Lobstermen are still learning how to cope with sinking groundlines, but they anticipate fewer problems with it during the fall and winter than at other times of the year because they are fishing less frequently. Lob- stermen will be faced with a difficult decision next season of whether or not to continue to fish badly chaffed rope or to replace it with new rope. Lobstermen continue to be frustrated over low lobster prices. Many see potential in marketing their own lobsters, but have not found it to be feasible. Others expressed frustration over restaurants continuing to sell lobster at “market price” and believe it discourages customers from buying it. A Tenants Harbor lobsterman provided an update on the recent completion of their trap density study Maine DMR provided a several updates (see Zone F Summary). The state has held a follow-up meeting in Zone D with Monhegan fishermen to further discuss the potential for ocean energy test sites around that area. ZONE E (October 14) Wiscasset, ME: The Zone E Council met, but did not have a quorum. The DMR will reach out to Zone Council members to work with them to ensure feedback from Zone E on important issues such as the anticipated herring shortage. The state plans to conduct further outreach in the Wiscasset area to further discuss potential for locating ocean energy test sites in that area. ASMFC / NEFMC JOINT HERRING MEETING (October 6) Portland, ME: A joint ASMFC/NEFMC herring meeting was held to discuss the specifications for area quotas over the next 3 years. The joint committees expressed concern over the level of uncertainty with the recent stock assessment results and the recommended Acceptable Biologic Catch (ABC) of 90,000 metric tons (mt) by the Science and Statistical Committee (SSC). It was clarified that the Council is bound by law to follow the scientific recommendations of the SSC and although a socio-economic analysis will be conducted on all management options, the results will not have any impact on the SSC’s recommendation for ABC. The joint committees questioned whether the new legal requirement to incorporate the SSC’s recommendation for ABC could be delayed until 2011 because the herring fishery is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. NMFS legal counsel cited a lawsuit that has been filed related to this issue, but speculated it is unlikely to be resolved by the court in time to affect decisions on herring quota allocations for next year. The Herring Plan Development Team scientists presented a risk analysis of mixing ratios on the inshore and offshore stocks, and recommended a drastically reduced quota of around 10,000 mt for Area 1A to prevent overfishing; a 50,000 mt reduction from 2006. The joint committees recommended that six options be analyzed under two scenarios: 1) ABC of 145,000 mt in 2010 and 90,000 mt in 2011 and 2012 and 2) ABC of 90,000 mt for the next three years. The stock assessment indicates a fishing mortality rate (FMSY) of .24 as the target that will not adversely impact the stock. The joint committees requested that options be analyzed which meet a target FMSY range of .24 to .28. All of the alternatives developed with an ABC of 145,000 mt exceed this target range. An Area 1A quota of 22,000 mt in Area 1A has an FMSY of .37, which is well above the target range. The joint committees will reconvene on November 10 to review the analysis and to discuss final recommendations for allocations of herring quota for 20102012. The NEFMC will approve this recommendation at their November meeting. The final package will not be implemented by NMFS until early 2010. MLA DIRECTORS (October 7) Belfast, ME: MLA Directors received a copy of the October newsletter and were pleased with the revamping and improving the newsletter. The Board voted to continue with in-house advertising sales and support for the newsletter. Membership renewals continue to arrive steadily. The membership year ended on August 31. Approximately 60% of members have renewed to date. We must continue to remind our members that it is time to renew, and that the organization depends on their support. Deirdre Gilbert from Maine DMR updated the Directors on DMR’s decision not to move forward with legislation to establish a new lobster science and marketing entity during the upcoming session. Instead, the DMR will work with the Lobster License Plate Research, Education, and Development Fund (RED Fund) to hire an outreach coordinator. The outreach coordinator will get feedback from the lobster industry on the advantages and disadvantages of increasing the level of industry investment in marketing. The MLA Directors indicated that they would like MLA to remain involved on this issue and to assist with the education and outreach campaign. Six bill titles related to the lobster industry have been submitted for consideration in the next legislative session, as well as five additional bills submitted by Maine DMR. The Legislative Council will vote on which bills will move forward in mid-October with a final list available in early November. There are also a few carry over bills from last session including the saltwater fishing license. On the management front, the comment period closes on October 9 for ASMFC draft Addendum XV to the lobster plan. Several environmental groups have joined together and filed a petition to expand critical habitat for large whales to include the entire Gulf of Maine. NMFS has 12 months to make a determination. There will be an opportunity for public comment on this if it moves forward. The MLA will continue to monitor this issue. MLA Directors were updated on the anticipated bait shortage next year. MLA’s staff attorney explained that the MLA cannot fight the slated cuts in quota as they are mandated under the law, and socio-economic impacts will not be taken into account when considering the amount of quota available. The MLA Directors requested that staff conduct research to determine our current bait supply and the potential for baits other than herring to make up for the reduction in herring landings. The MLA is campaigning for a new herring assessment and is urging NMFS to open an experimental redfish fishery in the Gulf of Maine which has potential to land 9,000 mt. The next MLA meetings will be November 4 and December 2 at 5pm at Darby’s in Belfast. Enter to win the Maine lobstermen photo contest Winners will receive gift certificates from one of our member businesses. The categories are: • Best crew shot • Best scenic • Best lobster/ bait close-up • Best action shot Photos can be color or black and white. Submit photos to mainelobsterphotocontest@ gmail.com. Deadline is December 15. November 2009 Meeting Round-up ASMFC ADDENDUM XV PUBLIC HEARINGS (Sept 21, Oct 6, Oct 7) Portland, Rockland and Ellsworth, ME: Draft Addendum XV proposes to maintain the historic level of trap fishing effort (2004 – 2008) and curtail a potential influx of new federal lobster vessels in LCMA 1 federal waters fishery (3 – 200 miles from shore). The Draft Addendum also proposes to limit entry of vessels which have not fished with traps in LCMA 1 in the past from fishing in Area 1 with traps in the future. Ultimately, whatever actions are approved will be in the form of recommendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service for action in the federal waters portion of LCMA 1. Attendance at the public hearings was minimal, and no concerns were raised. The Maine Lobstermen’s Association supported the Draft Addendum in a letter to the ASMFC stating its support to maintain historic trap fishing effort in Wind Area 1 by preventing conversion of new effort from other lobster management areas and the non-trap fishery into Area 1. The ASMFC Lobster Board will review this addendum at their November meeting. MAINE COASTAL WATERS CONFERENCE (October 28) Northport, ME: The second Maine Coastal Waters Conference, an all day event, featured informative presentations and discussions about climate change, sea level rise, ocean energy and community participation in ocean management. Keynote speakers included Monica Medina, Senior Advisor to the NOAA Administrator, Angus S. King, Jr., former Governor, state of Maine, and Susi Moser, Ph. D., Climate Researcher, Susanne Moser CORRECTIONS In the October issue of the MLA newsletter, we reported that, “In 2009, the herring fishery landed 20,000 mt in just two landing days in August.” That should read, “...landed 20,000 mt in just two landing days per week in August.” Po Box 37, Stonington, ME 04681 CFN has the lastest : Market Reports Along the Coast State news columns Enforcement Report News Catch Lobster boat races New Boats And more... Other favorites include: Classifieds Brian Robbins’ Bearin’s Fleet additions Letters to the Editor! MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION So subscribe today and you get a great deal as a member of this association. Only $18.75 for one year and save more than $14.00 off the regular newsstand rate. WOW, what a savings! Call Katie 800-989-5253 Mention this Code: MLA nents necessary to develop deep-water, offshore wind power, including floating platforms, anchoring systems, and new lightweight blade composites. They will also monitor the impacts, if any, of offshore wind systems on the environment. The law mandates that one site be designated as a wind energy research center operated by the University of Maine. State agencies are required to identify the sites by December 15. The DOC is making public a memo called “Draft Site Selection Methodology” that describes the analysis and ranking methodology used to identify the four draft sites. Maps of the four draft sites are also available online, along with the memo on methodology, at the 15 Department of Conservation’s website. The four draft sites are not final. Marvinney said his team will accept written comment from the general public and stakeholders until November 30. “We’re far from done. This process is transparent, and I urge anyone who wants to submit an opinion, or technical data, to write to the Department of Conservation,” Marvinney said. Marvinney said comments can be submitted online at the DOC website, and written comments on the draft sites can be mailed to: Wind Energy Site Selection c/o Dan Prichard Department of Conservation 22 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0022 16 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION November 2009 MLA takes action on herring cuts Address to NOAA, NEFMC, and ASMFC October 14, 2009 Dear Dr. Lubchenco, Dr. Thompson, Mr. Howard and Mr. O’Shea: The Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) is an industry association representing the interests of Maine’s commercial lobster industry. The MLA is extremely concerned with the results of the most recent stock assessment completed by the Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee (TRAC) as well as the resulting recommendation from the Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) to set the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) at 90,000MT, and proposals to greatly reduce allowable catches in the herring management areas. We urge you to address the scientific inadequacies of the herring data and corresponding assessment because the resulting management action to reduce quota will have severe economic impacts on the lobster industry and our coastal communities. The MLA recommends several actions to allow for sound management of the herring resource while minimizing extreme economic hardships. • The MLA recommends that the 2009 Atlantic Herring specifications be carried forward for one year for the 2010 season. The TRAC determined the stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. Fishing mortality has consistently been below FMSY. National Standard 1 Guidelines allow for the ABC to be equal to the Over Fishing Limit (OFL). Setting the ABC = OFL would allow 2009 specifications to be carried forward for one year, during which time a new benchmark assessment must be completed. • The MLA recommends that a new benchmark assessment be conducted as early as possible, to address the high level of uncertainty in the assessment results. The benchmark assessment should be completed in time to ensure its use in revising the herring specification package for the 2011 fishing season. National Standard 2 Guidelines state that SSCs should advise their Councils regarding the best scientific information available for fishery management decisions. The SSC recommended “a new benchmark assessment should be scheduled as soon as possible to address sources of uncertainty, re-estimate MSY reference points and consider including estimates of consumption and spatial structure in the assessment.” • The MLA recommends that funding be prioritized to conduct research to more accurately assess the herring stock structure and biomass, particularly, to more accurately measure the proportions of spawning stocks within the herring stock complex. Of particular concern is obtaining an accurate measurement of the inshore stock component which is subject to high levels of fishing effort and has long provided the primary bait supply for the lobster industry. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) has proposed to conduct such research and is ready to complete this important work. • The MLA recommends that the U.S. engage Canada in bilateral management of the resource. The U.S. portion of the herring stock complex is highly regulated through the Area 1A TAC, while the landings from the Canadian portion of the inshore stock component occur annually without restriction. With U.S. quotas for Area 1A slated to be reduced by as much as 85% from 2006 levels, it is unacceptable for the Canadian landings to continue without regulation. This is not an equitable sharing of the resource. Furthermore, the Canadian fishery targets young fish which could adversely affect the strength of future year classes. • The MLA supports the Maine Department of Marine Resources proposal to develop an experimental fishery for Acadian redfish. If this fishery is put in place, it has the potential to offset at least some of the loss of herring quota. The recommended ABC will cripple the Maine lobster industry which already has been struggling to adjust to the 1/3 reduction in herring quota since 2006. Recent discussions by the New England Fishery Management Council and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission reveal that the Area 1A quota could be set as low as 9,000 MT up to 20,000 MT, far below the 60,000 MT quota on which the lobster industry has depended on. That translates into a loss of up to 1.4 million bushel of bait in 2010 as compared to 2006. This impact is massive; bait will simply not be available for many, and lobstermen cannot fish without bait. The resulting tight bait supply will lead to corresponding increases in the cost of bait. According to a 2006 study conducted by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (Lobster Socioeconomic Impact Survey, Gulf of Maine Research Institute,2006), the average lobsterman spent 14% of gross revenue on bait in 2006. The MLA estimates that during this year, that figure increased to 25%, due to a 30% drop in boat price and a 20% increase in bait price. The MLA estimates that 35% to 40% of an average lobsterman’s gross revenue will be spent on bait under the projected scenarios. Because most lobster businesses are already struggling to make a profit this year, any significant increase in the cost of bait threatens to put lobstermen out of business. Many will not be able to afford bait and, therefore, won’t be able to afford to go lobstering. Lobstermen who fish baits other than herring will not be spared the effects of this crisis, as the demand for herring alternatives will skyrocket creating shortages and pushing the price for all bait products beyond the reach of many lobstermen. In an effort to cope with the 1/3 cut in Area 1A quota over the past two years, the lobster industry has made strides in reducing the amount of herring used, diversifying the types of baits used, and adding storage and holding capacity for bait. The impact of holding capacity varies widely depending on size and number of fishermen serviced, and the impact ranges from providing a few days worth of bait up to a three week supply. Despite these efforts, the Maine lobster industry has experienced bait shortages in 2008 and 2009. This year, with a June opening and only two landing days per week, 20,000 MT were landed from Area 1A before the end of August; 9,000 MT were harvested by midJuly. The Maine lobster fishery operates year round, however, 83% of the landings occur over a five month period from July through November; and more than 20% of landings occur during October. It is difficult to conceive how there will be any herring available to fish our lucrative fall months when the majority of profits are earned in the lobster fishery. And Downeast lobstermen could be most severely impacted because their fishery occurs later in the season when compared to other areas. The impact of a reduction in quota will be felt far beyond the lobster industry in Maine. In 2008, Maine’s 5,800 owner-operator lobstermen landed a catch valued at $245 million and contributed nearly a billion dollars to their local economy. The lobster industry is the economic backbone of many coastal communities. If lobstermen are not able to fish due to bait shortages or inability to afford bait, the economic stability of many Downeast and island communities will be threatened. The MLA is ardent supporter of stewardship of our precious ocean resources that allow for sustainable harvests for our fishermen today, while ensuring a sustainable future for future generations. The Maine lobster fishery is healthy and sustainable, and we support this same approach in managing the herring fishery. However, the science fueling the massive reductions in herring landings over the next three years are overwhelmed with uncertainty. Given that the resource is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring, we strongly urge you to support carrying the 2009 specification package forward by setting the ABC = OFL (as allowed under National Standard 1), and ensure that a new benchmark assessment be completed for the herring fishery in time to set new quotas in time for the 2011 fishing season. Maine’s lobster industry and our coastal communities will depend on it. Thank you for your consideration of this urgent issue. Sincerely, Patrice McCarron, MLA Executive Director Senator Olympia Snowe Senator Susan Collins Representative Chellie Pingree Representative Michael Michaud New England Fishery Management Council (Herring Committee via Lori Steele) Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Herring Section via Chris Vonderweidt) Commissioner George Lapointe, Maine Dept of Marine Resources November 2009 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 17 Maine Lobstermens Association Member Business Listing AUTO DEALERS Credit Now Auto Company John Linnehan’s PO Box 553 Ellsworth, ME 04605 207-667-2750 AUTO/TRUCK BODIES Hews Company LLC 190 Rumery St South Portland, ME 04106 207-767-2136 800-234-4397 [email protected] www.hewsco.com BAIT DEALERS Bessy Bait LLC Warehouse: 155 R Batchelder Rd, Seabrook, NH 03874 2 Mase Rd Hampton, NH 03842 603-300-2846; 603-300-2849 [email protected] www.bessybait.com Cape Porpoise Lobster Co Inc Allen Daggett 184 Beachwood Ave Kennebunkport, ME 04046 207-967-0900 [email protected] www.capeporpoiselobster.com Clawdia’s Secret Pat Pinto 516 Blackstrap Point Rd Falmouth, ME 04105 [email protected] www.clawdiassecret.com Eaton Trap Co Inc Marty Eaton 12 Birchwood Rd Woolwich, ME 04579 207-443-3617 [email protected] Lund’s Fisheries Inc David Brand 997 Ocean Dr Cape May, NJ 08204 609-884-7600 [email protected] www.lundsfish.com O’Hara Corportation Wyatt Anderson 120 Tillson Ave Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-0405 [email protected] Purse Line Bait Jenni Bichrest Bakers Wharf Rd PO Box 276 Sebasco Estates, ME 04565 207-389-9155 BOAT BROKERAGE Novi Boat Brokers Dane A Devine 21 Hawthorne St Yarmouth, NS B5A 1K3 Canada 902-742-7207 [email protected] www.noviboatbrokers.com DOCUMENTATION SERVICE Coastal Documentation 111 Dennision Rd Spruce Head, ME 04859 207-596-6575 [email protected] www.coastaldocumentation.com Northeast Marine Survey, Inc Jason Hillman PO Box 231 Bailey Island, ME 04003 207-833-0954 [email protected] www.northeastmarinesurvey.us 10% off the commercial rate for MLA members ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT Blackmore Electronics Blaine E Blackmore PO Box 82 Stonington, ME 04681 207-367-2703 [email protected] Pete’s Marine Electronics Peter Grant 101 Washington Rd Waldoboro, ME 04572 207-350-2500 [email protected] Sawyer & Whitten Marine Mike Whitten 416 Commericial St Portland, ME 04101 207-879-4500 118 Tillson Ave Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-7073 [email protected] www.sawyerwhitten.com FINANCE & INVESTMENT Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Andrew X Sankey PO Box 400 Bar Harbor, ME 04609 207-288-3314 Damariscotta Bank & Trust Co Denise Brenner 25 Main St PO Box 999 Damariscotta, ME 04543 207-563-8121 www.damariscottabank.com Chase Leavitt Co 72 Commercial St PO Box 589 Portland, ME 04112 207-772-6383 218 Bucksport Rd Ellsworth, ME 04605 207-667-9390 www.chaseleavitt.com Grundens USA Ltd PO Box 2068 Poulsbo, WA 98370 800-323-7327 [email protected] www.grundens.com Guy Cotton Inc. Patrick Jaquer 782 South Water St. New Bedford, MA 02740 508-997-7075 [email protected] www.guycottonusa.com Hamilton Marine 155 E. Maine st. Searsport, ME 04974 207-548-2985 100 Fore St. Portland, ME 04101 207-774-1772 20 Park Dr Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-8181 hamiltonmarine.com Discounts for MLA members Jacksons Hardware & Marine Lisa Corcoran PO Box 287 Kittery, ME 03904 207-439-1133 Farm Credit of Maine ACA Robert Horne 615 Minot Ave Auburn, ME 04210 207-784-0193 800-831-4230 [email protected] www.farmcreditmaine.com Logtek Inc Tim Bourque & James Roy Box 98, RR 2 Tusket, NS BOW 3M0 Canada 207-510-1763 or 888-840-1089 [email protected], [email protected] www.logtek.com Machias Savings Bank 4 Center St PO Box 318 Machias, ME 04654 207-255-3347 www.machiassavings.com Maine Coast Petroleum, Inc Dale O’Neal PO Box 295 Tenants Harbor, ME 04860 207-372-6962 [email protected] Maine Financial Group Inc Jim Amabile PO Box 1689 Scarborough, ME 04074 800-974-9995 800-974-9995 Midcoast Marine Supply 153 New County Rd Thomaston, ME 04861 207-594-0011 [email protected] www.midcoastmarinesupply.com The First Sarah Matel PO Box940 Damariscotta, ME 04543 207-563-3195 800-564-3195 [email protected] www.the1st.com SUPPLIERS Atlantis Marine Gear Supply Inc Boyd Jackson 418 Boston St (RT 1) Topsfield, MA 01983 978-887-0001 ww.amgs.com 10% Discount to MLA Members Bath Lobster Supply 340 State Rd, Suite B West Bath, ME 04530 207-386-3225 www.brookstrapmill.com Neptune Inc 39 Slater St Attleboro, MA 02703 508-222-8313 800-642-7113 [email protected] www.neptune-inc.com Neptune Marine Products Inc Ed Wyman PO Box 17417 Seattle, WA 98127 206-789-3790 [email protected] www.neptunemarineproducts.com New England Marine & Industrial 200 Spaulding Turnpike Portsmouth, NH 03801 603-436-2836 800-492-0779 [email protected] www.newenglandmarine.com Novatec Braids Ltd Neal Prescott PO Box 735 Yarmouth, ME 04096 207-846-8657 [email protected] www.novabraid.com Plantes Lobster Escape Vents Inc Eric and Jocelyn Dedoes 3628 Turner Ridge Rd Somerville, ME 04348 207-549-7204 [email protected] www.plantebuoysticks.com Polyform US Tom Case 7030 S 224th Kent, WA 98032 253-872-0300 [email protected] www.polyformus.com Rose’s Marine Don Favaloro 375 Main St Gloucester, MA 01930 978-283-3334 800-283-3334 [email protected] www.rosesmarine.com Superior Marine Products Inc Dean C Bridges 15 Murray Drive Raymond, ME 04071 207-655-4492 [email protected] www.superiormarineprod.com GIFTS Elobsterman.com William Pierce 164 Wessagussett Rd Weymouth, MA 02191 [email protected] www.elobsterman.com HYDRAULICS Coastal Hydraulics Inc 28 Route 286 PO Box 2832 Seabrook, NH 03874 603-474-1914 [email protected] 10% discount for MLA members Hews Company LLC 190 Rumery St South Portland, ME 04106 207-767-2136 800-234-4397 [email protected] www.hewsco.com Lonnie’s Hydraulic Inc Lawrence Staples 227 Middlesex Rd Topsham, ME 04086 207-725-7552 Marine Hydraulic Engineering Co Rockland Industrial Park 17 Gordon Dr Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-9527 [email protected] Rose’s Marine Don Favaloro 375 Main St Gloucester, MA 01930 978-283-3334 800-283-3334 [email protected] www.rosesmarine.com Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation Erin Pelletier PO Box 523 Kennebunk, ME 04043 207-985-8088 [email protected] Island Institute Rob Snyder PO Box 648 Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-9209 [email protected] ME Import/Export Dealers Assoc. Pete McAleney PO Box 10228 Portland, ME 04104 207-775-1612 www.mainelobsterdealers.com Maine Lobster Promotion Council Dane Somers 45 Memorial Circle, Suite 102 Augusta, ME 04330 207-287-5142 (5140-office) [email protected] Maine Port Authority John Henshaw 16 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 207-624-3564 [email protected] www.maineports.com www.lobsterfrommaine.com Maine Sea Grant University Of Maine Paul Anderson 5784 York Comples, Bldg 6 Orono, ME 04469 207-581-1422 [email protected] www.seagrant.umaine.edu Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Assn Jeffrey Cockburn 48-2 Marshall Wharf Belfast, ME 04915 207-338-6600 [email protected] Penobscot East Resource Center Robin Alden PO Box 27 Stonington, ME 04681 207-367-2708 [email protected] www.penobscoteast.org The Lobster Conservancy Diane Cowan PO Box 235 Friendship, ME 04547 207-832-8224 [email protected] INSURANCE Atlantic Insurance & Benefits Michael Giles 58 High St Belfast, ME 04915 207-338-9787 [email protected] www.atlantic-insurance.com Chapman & Chapman PO Box1030 Damariscotta, ME 04543 207-563-3143 800-370-3143 [email protected] INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS Coastal Enterprises Inc Hugh S Cowperthwaite 2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 201 Portland, ME 04101 207-772-5356 www.ceimaine.org Mega Life & Health Insurance Rick Williams PO Box 74 Prospect Harbor, ME 04669 207-963-4111 [email protected] BUSINESSES SUPPORTING AT THE HIGHLINER LEVEL ARE LISTED IN BOXES. 18 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION November 2009 Maine Lobstermens Association Member Business Listing Smithwick & Mariners Scott Smithwick 366 US Route One Falmouth, ME 04105 207-781-5553 800-370-1883 [email protected] Discounted vessel insurance for MLA members. Additional 5% discount if you show proof of having completed a Coast Guard approved Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor course within the last 5 years. LEGAL SERVICES Howard & Bowie Law Office Clayton Howard PO Box 460 Damariscotta, ME 04543 207-563-3112 Nicholas H Walsh PA Nicholas “Nico” Walsh 111 Commerical St Portland, ME 04101 207-772-2191 [email protected] LOBSTER HATCHERY Mount Desert Oceanarium David Mills PO Box 696 Soutwest Harbor, ME 04679 207-288-5005 [email protected] Free admission to commercial fishermen and their families LOBSTER/SEAFOOD/ WHOLESALE/RETAIL Alfred Osgood PO Box 358 Vinalhaven, ME 04863 207-863-0929 [email protected] Atlantic Edge Lobster Edward Tibbetts 71 Atlantic Ave Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 207-633-2300 [email protected] Atwood Lobster Co PO Box 202 Island Rd Spruce Head, ME 04859 207-596-6691 www.atwoodlobster.com Bayleys Lobster Pound Bill Bayley PO Box 304 Scarborough, ME 04070 207-883-4571 [email protected] www.bayleys.com Beals Jonesport Coop Inc Steve Peabody PO Box 195 Jonesport, ME 04649 207-497-2020 [email protected] Bucks Harbor Shopping Mall Lana Webb PO BOX 34 Machiasport, ME 04655 207-255-3418 [email protected] Cape Porpoise Lobster Co Inc Allen Daggett 184 Beachwood Ave Kennebunkport, ME 04046 207-967-0900 [email protected] www.capeporpoiselobster.com Conary Cove Lobster Co Inc Basil S Heanssler 83 Conary Cove Rd Deer Isle, ME 04627 207-348-6185 Island Seafood LLC 32 Brook Dr Eliot, ME 03909 207-439-8508 [email protected] Cooks Lobster House Norman Parent PO Box 12 Bailey Island, ME 04003 207-833-6641 [email protected] www.cookslobster.com ‘Keag Store Sharon Allen PO Box 76 South Thomaston, ME 04858 207-596-6957 Corea Lobster Cooperative Dwight Rodgers PO Box 99 Corea, ME 04624 207-963-7936 [email protected] Cozy Harbor Seafood Inc John Norton PO Box 389 Portland, ME 04112 207-879-2665 [email protected] www.cozyharbor.com Craig’s All Natural LLC Craig Rief 25 Winecellar Rd Durham, NH 03824 603-397-5331 [email protected] www.craigsallnatural.com Cranberry Isles Fishermens Coop PO Box 258 Islesford, ME 04646 207-244-5438 F W Thurston Co Inc PO Box 178 Bernard, ME 04612 207-244-3320 Finest Kind Scenic Cruises Eleanor Hubbard PO Box 1828 Ogunquit, ME 03907 [email protected] www.finestkindcruises.com Friendship Lobster Coop PO Box 307 Friendship, ME 04547 207-832-4435 Georgetown Fishermen’s Coop 89 Moores Tpke Georgetown, ME 04548 207-371-2950 Glens Lobster Co 12 Abner Point Rd Bailey Island, ME 04003 207-833-6138 [email protected] Harrigan’s Seafood Co Rachelle & Chuck Gerry 218 Back Belmont Rd Belfast, ME 04915 207-930-9060 [email protected] www.harrigansseafood.com HR Beal & Sons Inc Samn Beal 182 Clark Point Rd Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 207-244-3202 [email protected] www.bealslobster.com Interstate Lobster Inc PO Box 269 Harpswell, ME 04079 207-833-5516 Kent’s Lobster David & Cynthia Niquette 31 Steamboat Hill Swans Island, ME 04685 207-526-4186 [email protected] Kips Seafood Co Karl St Crute Sr 117 River Rd Cushing, ME 04563 207-354-6265 Lake Pemaquid Inc Clayton Howard PO Box 967 Damariscotta, ME 04543 207-563-5202 [email protected] www.lakepemaquid.com Little Bay Lobster Inc 158 Shattuck Way Newington, NH 03801 603-431-3170 [email protected] www.littlebaylobster.com Lobster Products Inc 64 Tidal Falls Rd Hancock, ME 04640 207-422-6238 [email protected] Maine Coast Seafood Glenn Wiley PO Box 156 Spruce Head, ME 04859 207-596-6481 [email protected] Muscongus Bay Lobster 28 Landing Rd Round Pound, ME 04564 207-529-2251 [email protected] www.mainefreshlobster.com Pemaquid Fishermen’s Coop PO Box 152 New Harbor, ME 04554 207-677-2801 [email protected] Port Clyde Lobster Linda Bean PO Box 239 Port Clyde, ME 04855 207-372-8520 [email protected] Portland Shellfish Co. 92 Waldron Way Portland, ME 04103 207-767-1625 www.pshellfish.com Port Lobster Co Inc PO Box 729 Kennebunkport, ME 04046 207-967-2081 [email protected] www.portlobster.com Post Brothers Inc PO Box 541 Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-5824 Quahog Lobster Inc Robert Waddle 5 Lobster Lane Harpswell, ME 04079 207-725-6222 [email protected] Seaview Lobster Co Tom & Kevin Flanigan PO Box 291 Kittery, ME 03904 207-439-1599 [email protected] www.seaviewlobster.com Shucks Maine Lobster John Hathaway 150 Main St, Suite 4 Richmond, ME 04357 207-737-4800 [email protected] www.shucksMaine.com South Bristol Fishermens Coop PO Box 63 South Bristol, ME 04568 207-644-8224 Spruce Head Fishermen’s Coop Dave Sleeper 275 Island Rd South Thomaston, ME 04858 207-594-7980 [email protected] Stonington Lobster Coop PO Box 87 Stonington, ME 04681 207-367-2286 [email protected] Swans Island Fishermens Coop Kathleen Clark PO Box 116 Swans Island, ME 04685 207-526-4327 [email protected] Vinalhaven Fishermens Coop Carol Hamilton 11 Main St, Box 366 Vinalhaven, ME 04863 207-863-2263 [email protected] Weathervane Seafoods Inc Josh Sharp 31 Badgers Island West Kittery, ME 03904 207-439-0920 [email protected] www.weathervaneseafoods.com Fishermen’s Voice Mike Crowe PO Box 253 Gouldsboro, ME 04607 207-963-7195 National Fisherman Jerry Frazier 121 Free St Portland, ME 04112 Discounted subscription for MLA members PRINTING Olivers Print Shop Gary Gravel PO Box 667 Damariscotta, ME 04543 207-563-5655 [email protected] PROPELLERS Accutech Larry Kindberg 121 Lafayette Rd # 3 PO Box 1058 N Hampton, NH 03862 603-964-3682 [email protected] www.accutechmarine.com 20% off propeller repair H & H Propellor Shop Inc 450A Bath Rd Brunswick, ME 04011 800-924-7767 www.hhprop.com New England Propeller Inc 9 Apollo Eleven Rd Plymouth, MA 02360 508-747-6666 [email protected] www.neprop.com REFRIGERATION Applied Refrigeration Services 33 Northwood Dr Windham, ME 04062 207-893-0145 [email protected] $250 off new installations for MLA members RESTAURANTS MARINE ENGINES Cummins Northeast Inc Steve Savage 10 Gibson Rd Scarborough, ME 04074 207-883-8155 [email protected] www.marine.cummins.com Milton Cat Stewart Tuttle PO Box 960 Scarborough, ME 04070 207-833-9586 [email protected] www.miltoncat.com Northern Lights/Lugger 8 Connector Rd Andover, MA 01810 978-475-7400 800-762-0166 [email protected] www.northern-lights.com Barnacle Billys Inc PO Box 837 Ogunquit, ME 03907 207-646-5575 [email protected] www.barnbilly.com Bowdoin College Dining Services Jon Wiley 3700 College Station Brunswick, ME 04011 207-725-3432 [email protected] The Clam Shack Steve Kingston PO Box 620C Kennebunkport, ME 04046 207-967-3321 [email protected] www.theclamshack.net SAFETY TRAINING NEWSPAPERS Commercial Fisheries News Box 37, Stonington, ME 04681 207-367-2396 800-989-5253 [email protected]; www.fish-news.com/cfn Discounted subscription for MLA members McMillan Offshore Survivial Training 148 Waterville Rd Belfast, ME 04915 207-338-1603 [email protected] www.mcmillanoffshore.com 10% discount on USCG Drill Conductor Certification November 2009 MLA Buy/ Sell/ Swap Member Business Listing ADVERTISE YOUR STUFF HERE. Classifieds are $20. MLA members get 1 free 20-word listing a month. SALT Maine Salt Company 677 Coldbrook Rd Hermon, ME 04401 207-848-3796 [email protected] www.mainesalt.com 2005 90cc Dinli youth ATV 1400 miles, reverse, electric start. Great shape, My kid has outgrown it. $600. 207-259-3949 35’ Mitchell Cove, New 265 John Deere, many extras, $110,000. Motivated seller before Dec 1st. Reasonable offers considered. 207-372-0610 TRADE SHOWS Diversified Business Communications PO Box 7437 Portland, ME 04112 207-842-5500 [email protected] www.divbusiness.com Maine Fishermens Forum Chilloa Young PO Box 288 Bath, ME 04530 207-442-7700 [email protected] TRAP BUILDERS/ SUPPLIES Branch Brook Farm Ralph Dean 26 Sawmill Lane Thomaston, ME 04861 207-354-8123 [email protected] Brooks Trap Mill Stephen Brooks 211 Beechwood St Thomaston, ME 04861 207-354-8763 [email protected] Eaton Trap Co Inc Marty Eaton 12 Birchwood Rd Woolwich, ME 04579 207-443-3617 [email protected] Friendship Trap Company 570 Cushing Rd Friendship, ME 04547 207-354-2545 800-451-1200 [email protected] www.friendshiptrap.com Portland Trap 26-28 Union Wharf Portland, ME 04101 800-244-8727 [email protected] www.brookstrapmill.com Riverdale Mills Corp James Knott 130 Riverdale St PO Box 200 Northbridge, MA 01534 508-234-8715 800-762-6374 [email protected] www.riverdale.com Shepherd Lobster Wire Company 343 Park St Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-6123 [email protected] www.ceshepherd.com Trailer. Hudson Brothers 5-Ton, Double Axle. 24’ LOA, 18’ on deck. 2 5/16” hitch. Electric brakes and breakaway. $1600. 207-450-5534 One-story ranch for sale in West Bath – has garage, deck, 3BR, 2 minutes to water – seller VERY motivated – 442-8277; 7253432 Email your classifieds to [email protected]. Checks made out to Maine Lobstermen’s Association can be mailed to: Maine Lobstermen’s Association 21 Western Ave, # 1 Kennebunk, ME 04043 Events Calendar November 4 MLA Directors meeting, 5pm, Belfast November 9 Lobster Advisory Council, 4pm Hallowell November 9 NEFMC Herring Advisory, Portsmouth November 10 Joint NEFMC/ASMFC Herring Meeting, Portsmouth Nov 12 Science and Statistical Committee noon, conference call. The public can dial in. Call 967-4555 a week ahead of time to find out how. November 16 Zone G meeting, 6pm, Scarborough November 17-18 North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium Annual Meeting New Bedford Whaling Museum, MA November 17-19 – New England Council Meeting, Newport, RI December 2 MLA Directors meeting, 5pm, Belfast MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 19 20 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION November 2009 Maine lobstermen receive lobster industry newsletter The Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) has announced the launch of a monthly newspaper-format publication – dedicated to Maine’s lobster industry – that will go out to all of Maine’s roughly 5,800 lobstermen. Legislators, fisheries managers, and marine businesses will also receive the newsletter—helping them keep a finger on the pulse of the hopes and struggles of Maine’s lobstermen. Every month, the newsletter will feature in-depth reporting on issues significant to lobstermen and Maine’s coastal communities. It will also include interviews with lobstermen, profiles of different harbors, and letters. Market woes and increased regulation are shaking up the traditional world of the Maine lobster industry. Now Maine lobstermen have a tool to stay informed, share information, and have their voices heard. “The newsletter can help lobstermen start conversations and share opinions,” said Patrice McCarron, Executive Director of the MLA. “And legislators and lobstermen can track the advocacy work the MLA does on behalf of Maine lobstermen.” “We feel it’s extremely important during these times for everyone to be educated and informed,” said David Cousens, president of the MLA and a lobsterman from South Thomaston. “Fishermen need to be aware of all of the issues.” Since 1954, the MLA has advocated for a sustainable lobster resource and for the fishermen and communities that depend on it. Business sponsors make the increased production and distribution of the newsletter possible; Smithwick and Mariners Insurance sponsored the inaugural issue of the newsletter. Anyone interested in learning more about the lobster industry can become a member and receive the newsletter. Subscription rates will also be available. Call (207) 967-4555 for more information. ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE MLA 2008-2009 GUIDED LOBSTERMEN THROUGH THE ECONOMIC CRISIS • Helped lobstermen learn about and apply for special industry loans and programs • Pushed for ways for lobster industry leaders and officials to advance the economic well-being of the lobster industry FOUGHT FOR A STEADY BAIT SUPPLY • Advocated for tools that gave herring managers the ability to extend herring quota through the Fall when the lobster industry needs it most PUSHED FOR COMMON-SENSE WHALE RULES • Defended against trap reduction as a means to reduce vertical line risk • Worked with scientists to study whale sitings and fishing strategies. This data can lead to better whale rules EXPANDED WORKING WATERFRIONT FUNDING • Our participation in the Working Waterfront Coalition helped make funding available to permanently preserve working waterfronts INCREASED COMMUNICATION EFFORTS • We upgraded our newsletter to serve you. Now you can be the first to know what is happening in the lobster industry.