maine lobster whale regulations

In 25 years of fishing as a captain, and nearly 40 years of being on the water, my husband has never entangled a whale of any species, or even seen a single right whale in his life. We all fish in federal waters. Some boats are not equipped to handle the increase of traps, as such captains will either have to upgrade boats or give up offshore fishing. Commercial Fishing The Maine Lobstermen's Association filed the lawsuit to block new regulations that will require fishermen to make gear modifications to reduce the number of vertical lines in the water and will set a 950-square-mile section of the Gulf of Maine that will be off-limits to traditional lobstering from October through January. NOAA, which regulates the operation of the Maine lobster fishery, has proposed multiple rounds of what they call "risk reductions." "So how do you reduce the risk? We have redesigned our website. On May 31, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is under a court order to finalize a series of regulations designed to protect the North Atlantic right whale and to begin implementation of its new Biological Opinion on the lobster and nine other fixed gear fisheries in U.S. waters. New requirements for trawling up go into effect May 1, 2022 under the 2021 modifications to theAtlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. He's tasked with enforcing the new rules, even though he opposes most of them. We need to know that Canada and the rest of the U.S. fishing fleet is on par with Maines current rules that have been saving whales for decades. On Monday federal regulators will close a big swathe of Maine's coastal waters to traditional lobster and crab harvests. Zach Lunt, FrenchboroI am a 4th-generation lobsterman and I have two sons who fish for lobsters. At 17 I upgraded from my 30-foot Repco to my 45-foot Novi, flying to Nova Scotia the day after my high school graduation and steaming it home. It's on the westcoast, it's around the world frankly, and if we can address it here and help this fishery transition,theyll be the heroes," Knowlton says. Thank you for your consideration. But in Maine, many lobstermen fear it's the beginning of the end of a way of life. Science and Research Maine Lobster The Maine lobster industry has taken to the courts to seek legal relief from the federal fishing restrictions. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. A federal judge declined to second-guess the data the National Marine Fisheries Service used in 2021 to form a biological opinion describing New England's lobster industry's effect on the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Below are printable maps that show an overview of the trawling up requirements coast-wide and for each zone. And now look at where we are with the groundfish. That . In dispute over lobster fishing regulations, judge sides with the whales. And the regulations kick in next week, with a four-month ban on trap-rope in nearly 1,000 square miles of prime lobster grounds off Maine. Contact: (207) 216-9098. Brogan said he suspects that regulations on the Maine lobster industry will play out similarly. The incidents of whale entanglements and boat strikes have occurred largely in Canadian waters, not US waters. 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Below is a diagrams that shows the requirements for exempt waters, the sliver, and federal waters. A handful of lobstermen are trying out the new gear alongside their traditional systems. But that is because power organizations like CLF and the Humane Society will organize people from all over the country to write in on an issue they know nothing about. The Final Rule also removes the requirement for a 600-lb weak point at the buoy, although it does not prohibit its use. I testify I have never seen a large whale of any sorts in my career as a lobsterman. Well, you remove traps or ropes, you remove part of the fishery from the water," Drouin said. New Lobster Regulations to Protect Right Whales Met With Opposition on All Sides. "I'm hearing 'this sucks and we'll deal with it to'you're going to have to come in and kick me out of it, because I feellike I've got the right to fish here," says Patrick Keliher, who heads Maine's Department of Marine Resources. Our community consists of two towns, Jonesport and Beals Island, with a population of about 1200. The rule, filed on Aug. 31, is a modification of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan and is supposed to reduce the risk of entanglements to North Atlantic right whales in U.S. waters. We have been stewards to the ocean and its other inhabitants as well. Climate Driven: A deep dive into Maine's response, one county at a time, Maine Public on Your Voice Activated Device, Music That Moves ME 60th Anniversary Edition, WATCH: Video On-Demand TV Programs (including Maine PBS PASSPORT), WATCH: Maine Public Television Live Stream, Maine High School Basketball Championship Weekend, Watch Maine Public Television and Additional Channels with an Antenna, Listen to Maine Public Classical on Voice-Activated Devices, Community Calendar - Virtual & Live Events in Maine, Bangor Symphony Orchestra Presents Masterworks II: Tchaikovskys 6th, Facts About Maine Public's Federal Funding. Witness humpback whales, pilot whales, minke whales, and the massive finback whale which can grow up to 80 feet long. We can in no way fish ropeless gear. The Maine Lobstermen's Association is appealing its case against the new rules to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. "They're probably hitting gear pretty often. Maine lobster gear is obviously no threat to the whales. Also the increase of traps will cause them to shift, possibly harming crew. NMFS has put on new regulations for using lobster traps and their vertical floating lines to buoys that the agency and whale experts see as a serious threat to the survival of the right whale population, estimated at around 360 animals. Above five each lobster attracts a $400 fine. Gov. I am also the Zone D-8 representative for the fishermen of Owls Head. Our entire income is on the line. We have never caught a whale of any kind with our trap gear. We have limited our number of traps in the name of saving whales. But many think it won't work in a lot of open-ocean situations, is far too expensive, and is not advancing fast enough to solve the problem any time soon. "Theres a lot of hard work to do to fix this problem. I made a choice at the age of 17 to make a career out of lobstering. Now the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce has come up with one more way to back Maine's fishermen. The lobster fishermen sued the National Marine Fisheries Service, and in September a judge denied their request to stop the regulators from placing the new restrictions on fishing. Select the image for a downloadable PDF. You should try to focus on more apparent and important issues then trying to shaft the smaller self-employed fisherman! Maine lobstering group backs new speed limit on ships to protect whales MEGAN GRAY, Press Herald November 7, 2022 As it seeks sweeping restrictions on lobstering in order to protect North Atlantic right whales, the federal government also wants to slow down more boats in hopes of reducing collisions with the endangered marine mammals. Marine scientist Amy Knowlton says the technology could help protect all types of whales, and endangered turtles too. Kevin Glover, Owls HeadI am 37 years old and have lobstered my whole life. I had a choice to either go in debt while going to college or go in debt starting a business, either way it was going to be a lifelong commitment. Maine Lobsterman have long believed that their fishing lines are. Federal scientists say it's a hot-spot where whales and gear from at least 60 lobster boats could cross paths. The lobster fishing business is navigating a host of new federal fishing restrictions designed to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales. Lobsters. Speaking to the economic impact on my operation and family, it will displace a 50-year-old lobster fisherman who has worked 30 years to start to realize some debt-free ownership in my business assets. Families will move away. Please do not take my life, and the life of our total local economy and throw it away. I pour my heart and soul into fishing, being a 11th-generation fisherman. November 2, 2022 I f you're looking for a resolution to an escalating clash between advocates for right whales and the Maine lobstering industry, your best bet these days could be something called the Ropeless Consortium. Its not just an east coast U.S.problem or Canadian problem. weak points depends on your lobster zone and distance from shore. Federal regulators said they will soon start a process to create new whale-protection rules for Maine's lobster fleet that will go beyond the controversial regulations going into effect on May 1. In case you have so many egg bearing lobsters, the fine is a minimum of $2,500 and can be above $10,000. The schools will see massive decreases in enrollment. Mills in her letter to the lobster industry said she would not comply with the new regulation, claiming that there was a "disturbing lack of evidence" to support NOAA's new rules. OK the groundfish industry made all that money at one time, right? Ships must slow down more often to save whales, feds say July 29, 2022. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric . Yesterday, in a letter to Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Dr. Neil Jacobs, U.S. I have 3 teenagers, they are all in the student program to become fishermen. I hope that what you have heard from our fisherman is that a one-size-fits-all plan is not the right way to go about this. "Those months are crucial. It's an effort to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales from entanglement in fishing gear. Lobster traps prove to be particularly dangerous for these whales, as nearly 400,000 vertical ropes create a hazard that can result in immediate death, or prolonged entanglements that can restrict a whale's . We have put gear markings in our endlines in the name of whales. The real risk here is to our livelihoods, heritage and our way of living. In the meantime, come up with a tracking system [for right whales] that is safe and effective. Heres what I know. I also dont support the LMA 1 closure. AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Maine lawmakers are considering creating a legal defense fund to help the state's lobster industry deal with new rules, laws and regulations. Additional traps on the boat will throw the ballast off on rough days. The 1700-pound weak link insert requirements by location are as follows: Zone A West*, B, C, D, E; Federal Waters 312 nm: Zone A East*, F, and G; Federal Waters 312 nm: 1 weak insert 33% down the line, Beyond 12 nm: 1 weak insert 33% down the line. In Federal Waters,all buoy lines must have 1700-pound weak insertion(s) or approved 1700-pound breaking strength line at the location and frequency specified by Zone and distance from shore below. The placement and frequency of these 1700 lb. Lobstermen have taken care of the resource. It is ridiculous to punish Maine fishermen for whale injuries and deaths that dont even occur in our water. The rule of additional traps I fear will create a lot more accidents and loss of gear. Susan Hutchinson, Deer IsleThe current proposed rule, if passed, will have a devastating effect on local coastal fishing communities and will be largely ineffective in regard to protecting North Atlantic right Whales. Home I urge that we have more time to collect more data, especially now that each state has its own color markings. Updated: 8:55 AM EDT May 2, 2022. The new regulations include increasing zone closures and limits on traps and vertical lines. We wish you all the best on your future culinary endeavors. On May 31, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is under a court order to finalize a series of regulations designed to protect the North Atlantic right whale and to begin implementation of its new Biological Opinion on the lobster and nine other fixed gear fisheries in U.S. waters. The lobster industry and its political allies in Maine are condemning the decision, but conservationists say it doesn't do enough to protect the whales. The new requirements and regulations restrict where and how lobster fishermen can work. "Any time I hear people saying - 'oh look at these people they're just crying, they're fine, they've made all this money.' Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. Chapter 37 (PDF) Freshwater Fish Regulations Chapter 39 (PDF) Sturgeon Chapter 40 (PDF) Smelts Chapter 41 (PDF) Menhaden Chapter 42 (PDF) Striped Bass Chapter 43 (PDF) Bluefish Chapter 44 (PDF) American Shad Chapter 45 (PDF) Shrimp Chapter 49 (PDF) Shellfish Bait Regulations Chapter 50 (PDF) Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Sharks These rules will essentially close the Maine lobster fishery inside of 10 years while adding no value to the incidental catch of any whales, much less a right whale. The new regulations mandate multiple breakpoints in the . PORTLAND, Maine Maine's lobster industry is abiding by a new set of trap regulations that started Sunday. State regulations are effective May 1, 2022, consistent with the federal whale regulation implementation deadline. Species Information I would love to do this good forever. Based primarily in Maine, the lobster industry throughout New England, New York, and New jersey, brought in around $900 million last year, the report said. Mainers say new lobster regulations could kill the industry Roughly 200 people, including Gov. Filter:. Now there are fewer than 370 left on the planet, and they may be on the final road to extinction. New Rules To Protect the North Atlantic Right Whale. There has only been one recorded report of a right whale becoming entangled in lobster gear, and most deaths are due to large ships striking the whales. "We're not at fault. He and other industry defenders say federal regulators are over-stating the Maine lobster fleet's share of risk to right whales. Member Benefits: Passport, Membercard & More! KENNEBUNK, Maine - (November 1, 2022), In official comments submitted this week, the Maine Lobstermen's Association (MLA) called on the federal government to apply the law fairly as it develops new rules that would protect North Atlantic right whales from vessel strikes - which are known to have killed multiple endangered whales in U.S. waters Within 10 years, federal regulators are calling for a radical reduction in the use of gear-rope, aiming to squeeze the risk of harm to right whales down to near zero. We have redesigned our website. Not only would the cost be beyond absorbable, it cannot work when you cannot see the gear youre setting over that [was] set before you arrived. MAINE (WGME) - New federal laws are now in place for lobster fishermen in an effort to protect the endangered right whale. 5. Joseph Allen, RocklandI have been fishing for 25 years in West Penobscot Bay and offshore out to 30 miles. My familys life depends on this. Save. The new rules went into effect on May 1, 2022. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. PS My crew and I stop and take in the beauty when we are fortunate enough to see a minke whale or a humpback in the fall. We are not the problem with these whales. New requirements for gear marking go into effect May 1, 2022 under the 2021 modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (NOAA). Warming coastal waters have caused the whales to migrate north, bringing them into congested fishing areas like the Gulf of Maine. By Hannah LaClaire and Kevin Miller Portland Press Herald Share Right whales are demonstrably occurring in Maine lobster fishing zones, and 87 percent of the U.S. Atlantic lobster fishery falls with Maine watersrepresenting about 3 million licensed. Additionally, researchers suspect the increased ocean noise from human involvement interferes with the whales' communication and causes them stress. Whale Rules. Whale Rules - Gear Marking, Weak Rope, Trawl Lengths as of May 1, 2022 Maine protected resources regulations See Chapter 75 Commercial Lobster Fishing and Management Maine Lobster Management Lobster and Crab Bait Information Lobster Fishing and Dealer License Applications and Renewals Laws (see Part 9) and Regulations (see Chapter 25) The lobster industry is being made responsible for risk that is not ours. May 4, 2022 Efforts to reduce the risk of entanglement in lobster trap lines for the endangered North Atlantic right whale may need to consider more factors than just line strength if they want to be safe, effective and economical, according to new research led by the University of Maine and the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR). It will not work. New federal regulations created to protect the endangered right whale will close off a nearly 1,000 square mile strip in the Gulf of Maine to lobstering during the region's most lucrative season, from October through January. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. I am a 19-year-old fisherman from Chebeague Island. By clicking Accept all you agree that Yahoo and our partners will process your personal information, and use technologies such as cookies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights, and product development. However, if an egg bearing female lobster is liberated immediately while alive back into the coastal waters, there is no infringement of the law. You want to have the time of your life exploring Maine's most postcard-perfect historic. We have gone to weak links in the name of whales, which cost us a lot of float gear that ended up on shores all over the world. I guess Im not sure exactly what to say besides Id hate to see this industry brought to its knees due to over regulations. If your principal port is in Maine, the following regulations apply to you. I actually dont mind at all making it so its a safer place for whales in the Gulf of Maine, but I also dont want to be jobless in 10 years. Among other things, the agency is planning to limit to the number of vertical lobster lines in Maine waters and implement new seasonal zone restrictions in an effort to protect right whales, whose populations have plummeted in recent decades. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced last week a series of new rules with the aim of protecting whales in the North Atlantic. When asked of us we have always answered the call to action, with an eye towards sustainable conservation of the lobster resource and the surrounding marine environment as a whole. Find out more about how we use your information in our privacy policy and cookie policy. The fisherman who also sits on one of Maine's Lobster Zone Councils and the lobster rules change all the time, he said, but these make little sense. On Monday, Sept. 21, the Maine Lobstermen's Association filed a lawsuit challenging NMFS' new rule for Northeast lobster and Jonah crab fisheries. "It's probably 30% of our income, and it might be even more than that," says lobsterman Richard Larrabee Jr. And a federal judge in Bangor is set to hear oralarguments Friday morning on a request by the Maine Lobstering Union for a temporary injunction against the new restricted zone. In November 2021, the industry . "I think about my future for sure and my friends around here, family, I think probably every day what I could do, what I will do if it comes to that. The money I spend in the local economy is huge. He and his two sternmen are delivering their haul from his spotless 42-foot boat, the Rock Bottom, to a buyer's platform near Stonington - the nation's largest lobster port. BAR HARBOR From wearing red and signing petitions to dining at local restaurants and buying from trusted suppliers, showing support for the lobster fishing industry has come in many different forms. "NMFS has mandated that Maine lobstermen reduce risk to right whales by an additional 98 percent over the next 10 years based on the worst-case scenario instead of using best available data and. In this March 28, 2018, file photo, North Atlantic right whale feeds on the surface of Cape Cod bay off the coast of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Ship strikes on the surface-swimming right whales and crab gear lines in Canadian water are other threats. If a harvester is using the 600-lb weak point as their gear modification, then this will be required in the vertical line. With our rocky seafloor the occurrences of hang downs will increase, inevitably parting rope. Mills and most of Maine's congressional delegation, attended a hearing in Portland to tell. They're going to freakout and start wrapping up in that gear. As federal regulators look to impose limits on fishing lines that can entangle an endangered whale species, a bipartisan group of Maine lawmakers is rallying to block rules they say could tank. According to the Press Herald, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) earlier this week set new rules for [] For exempt waters,in addition to the weak rope and weak insert options approved by NOAA, DMR has included in the state regulation three additional weak insert options to support protection of north Atlantic right whales and to provide flexibility for Maine fishermen. Tips 10; Photos 22; Menu; Rudder Restaurant. No wet storage of gear (all gear must be hauled out of the water at least once every 30 days). Whatever they want to do, we're going to do," Larrabee says. To put people ashore when they have no connection to the loss of this species is WRONG! The association said the federal conservation plan calls on the lobster fishery to reduce risk to right whales by 90%, but the stricter speed limits would only reduce risk by an estimated 27%. The Maine Lobstermen's Association is suing the federal government, claiming the new regulations are based on flawed science and will not help the whales. See the crown jewel of coastal New England on our exciting, eco-friendly Maine adventure boat tours and whale watching excursions! 100% of our familys income comes from lobster fishing. A Columbia University graduate, Fred began his journalism career as a print reporter in Vermont, then came to Maine Public in 2001 as its political reporter, as well as serving as a host for a variety of Maine Public Radio and Maine Public Television programs. I like the idea of the purple markers cause if one did get caught up in an endline you could see where it was from. The prospect of new rules has loomed over the profitable lobster industry for years and were announced Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. North Atlantic right whales got their name because they swim slowly, and once killed, they float making them the right animal for 19th-century whalers to target. And it's just horrendous what these whales are experiencing," Knowlton says. I know where Im from a small island town called Frenchboro is 100% dependent on lobstering. The new regulations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) come in response to the recent deaths of six right whales. Share. Fisheries "There's questions about the accuracy," she said, later adding, "These [lobstermen] are not whale killers. So whales swimming in some areas off the state's coast, she says, face dangerous fields of vertical rope that stretch from traps below to buoys above. Among several significant measures, the new rule includes the seasonal closure of some 967 square miles of fishing grounds in federal waters about 30 miles off Maine's midcoast, from October . This year the town will unveil a new festive "tree" as part of its holiday program. The rules are being imposed to reduce the risk that endangered North Atlantic right whales will be killed by entanglements with fishing gear or ship . 9, 2022 under the 2021 modifications to theAtlantic Large whale Take Reduction Plan requirements:!, even though he opposes most of them they 're going to do, '' says... And began fishing zone F and G offshore in the local economy future generations depend on maintaining a and. Whale sighted off Peaks Island on Sept. 16, 2021 maine lobster whale regulations industry made all that money at one,! Whales September 9, 2022 can be found on NMFS ' website now the Bar Harbor Chamber Commerce! 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Occurred largely in Canadian waters, the entire backbone of the Maine lobster Laws - what! Comments supporting the rules being proposed point at the age of 17 to make a difference while our... Whale Take Reduction Plan requirements REMINDER: GENERAL TRAP/POT requirements no buoy line floating at the surface electronically and the! Every 30 days ) or Canadian problem can say without a doubt these rules are implemented offshore the! Am 37 years old and have lobstered my whole life hauled out of the will! To shift, possibly harming crew cripple the economy in the next i! Though he opposes most of Maine i can say without a doubt these rules implemented... Fishing in the next decade coast-wide and for each zone made all that money at one time,?.
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