In the wake of a year marked by record high landings and low boat prices in the lobster fishery, Maine Dept. of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher will conduct a series of public forums to seek input into the state of the industry and recommendations for the future.
The meetings were scheduled following the department’s receipt of a report entitled, “An Independent Evaluation of the Limited Entry System for Lobster and Crab,” conducted by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), available on the DMR website at maine.gov/dmr.
The report provides a comprehensive evaluation of the existing limited entry fishery, as well as options and recommendations to address identified deficiencies in the current system. DMR is required to report back to the Legislature on the results of this study later in January.
“2012 has been quite a year in the lobster fishery,” Keliher said in a press release. “Record high landings, low boat prices, Canadian processing constraints, and discussions about changing the state’s lobster marketing strategy have created both challenges and opportunities. Our goal at DMR is to engage [the] industry in discussions about all of these issues as well as the topic of the limited entry system for entry and exit into the fishery.”
“I hope the report’s analysis will provide us all with a common understanding of what is happening in the fishery, and that it will foster a great deal of conversation about the future of the fishery,” Keliher said. “These meetings with members of the lobster industry and other interested parties will inform the development of a department proposal for discussion with the Legislature. DMR will bring some concepts regarding the future of the licensing system to these meetings, and will be seeking input and feedback all along the coast.”
In an effort to make it easy for people to attend and participate, DMR scheduled 16 meetings in January in coastal communities from York to Machias. Each meeting will have the same format, and it is not necessary to attend multiple meetings.
The first of the meetings was scheduled for Wed., Jan 2 at 5 p.m., in the large conference room at the DMR offices in Boothbay Harbor.
Other Midcoast meetings are on Mon., Jan. 7, at 2 p.m. an the Hahn Community Center in Friendship and at 6 p.m. at the St. George Town Office in Tenants Harbor.
There will be another lobster industry forum on Mon., Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. at the Bristol Town Hall
Additional meetings will be held in other parts of the state as follows:
• Jonesport – Thurs., Jan 3 at 11 a.m. at the Jonesport Fire Station
• Machias – Thurs., Jan. 3 at 4 p.m. in the Machias Memorial High School Cafeteria
• Gouldsboro – Fri., Jan. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Gouldsboro Community Center
• Swans Island – Wed., Jan. 9 at 11 a.m. at the Swans Island Fire House
• Mount Desert Island – Wed., Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. at Mount Desert Elementary School – The Forum in Northeast Harbor
• Yarmouth – Mon., Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. at the Log Cabin
• Bucksport – Wed., Jan. 16 at 11 a.m. at the Bucksport Town Office Council Chambers
• Deer Isle – Wed., Jan. 16 at 4 p.m. in the Deer Isle-Stonington High School Cafeteria
• Vinalhaven – Thurs., Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. at the Vinalhaven Town Office
• Scarborough – Wed., Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. at the Scarborough Town Office Council Chamber A
• Bath – Wed., Jan. 23 at 4 p.m. at Bath City Hall Auditorium
• York – Thurs., Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. in the York Public Library Community Meeting Room
In the event of a meeting canceled due to inclement weather, a notice will be posted on the DMR webpage at maine.gov/dmr and also aired on WCSH-TV (Portland) and WLBZ-TV (Bangor). The canceled meeting will be rescheduled to a later date. For more information, contact Sarah Cotnoir at 624-6596.
