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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 34 Number 7
March 2007
Lobster council considers trap modifications
HALLOWELL, ME – The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Lobster Advisory Council met on Feb. 13 at the DMR offices in Hallowell to hear two proposals for possible changes to state lobster regulations to better protect oversize and small lobsters and to address upcoming legislation.
Lobsterman Sonny Sprague of Swans Island brought two proposals to the council for consideration.
The first was a suggestion to offer additional protection for large broodstock lobsters by requiring traps to be equipped with a larger biodegradable “ghost” panel.
Sprague proposed a 7-1/2"x7-1/2" biodegradable panel on the parlor end of the trap door to allow large lobsters caught in lost traps to escape.
Presently, Maine law requires an unobstructed biodegradable ghost panel of 3-3/4"x3-3/4" or an opening at least 3" wide along the entire length or height of the parlor section when the panel is removed or opened. This can be achieved by using a biodegradable panel or vent.
“What’s the size we could go to (in order) to get those large lobsters out without weakening the door?” asked lobsterman Bob Baines, council chairman.
Said Sprague, “I do have some panels that are 5"x5" and it doesn’t weaken the door or get in the way of the bungee cord.”
Typically, lobster trap wire mesh measures 1-1/2"x1-1/2" square and many fishermen count the meshes to determine the size to cut for the biodegradable panel. Several members of the council said they already cut out additional meshes to allow for a larger ghost panel than required by current law.
DMR lobster biologist Carl Wilson said quite a bit of work had been done on vent size but he would check to see what research has been done on larger ghost panel sizes.
Hulls Cove lobsterman Jon Carter, a council and Zone B council member, pointed out that fishermen would have to have enough lead time to come into compliance with any increase in the biodegradable panel.
“I’m in favor of it, but I bring my gear home and a lot of guys don’t,” he said. “Implementation time would be an issue.”
Small-mesh panel
Sprague’s second proposal to the council involved the use of a smaller mesh panel on the bottom of the trap to prevent small lobsters or lobster claws and tails from getting crushed on the haul back.
“A lot of guys back home are having trouble with small lobsters getting caught in the mesh near the runners,” he said.
Lobster Advisory Council members discussed how such a change could decrease culls and address quality issues associated with damaged lobsters.
“I’ve used Riverdale brickless bottoms in some of my traps. It’s a good product and you don’t kill or damage lobsters,” said lobsterman John Butler of Scarborough.
The council tabled both of Sprague’s proposals to provide time for Wilson and others to look into research that has already been done. Both proposals are expected to be on the next council agenda.
Science update
DMR’s annual report on preliminary 2006 lobster landings and value was not available at press time. However, each year Wilson gives a research update to the state legislature on the activities of the DMR lobster program, and he briefed the council on its contents.
The “2006 Lobster Research Report to the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources” went to lawmakers on Feb. 7. It details accomplishments of DMR’s port sampling and sea sampling programs and discusses participation in the lobster settlement index, inshore trawl survey, and ventless trap survey with other Northeast states.
Based on port sampling, cull rates have declined in the last 15 years, reported Wilson.
According to the report, average lobster prices in 2006 were lower than in 2005, with the average price for hard shells falling 14 cents, the average soft-shell price falling 53 cents, and the average price for selects falling 54 cents per pound.
With respect to recruitment, Wilson said, it was declining or stabilizing in some areas but there was good settlement in areas Downeast, and sea sampling showed that eastern Maine has the highest number of sublegal lobsters in 10 years.
“I was surprised in how many lobsters we saw in eastern Maine,” Wilson said. “We are getting a lot of reports that people are seeing a lot of shorts. We are seeing that in the trawl survey too.”
Environmental changes
Wilson also explained that research conducted by University of Maine oceanographer Neal Pettigrew suggests that the eastern Maine coastal current may be slowing down because of rising water temperatures.
These environmental changes could be putting lobsters into other areas.
“All signs are pointing to changes in the resource,” Wilson said.
Funding for the DMR lobster research and collaborative projects with fishermen primarily comes from outside sources, and Wilson cautioned that special funding may be more difficult to find in the coming year.
Alternative bait
Jim Henderson, a Saco lobsterman and council and Zone G council member, brought up lobstermen’s concerns about the use of alternative bait.
Council members and DMR staff discussed the potential shortage of bait – namely herring – they expect to see this summer. They do not want to prevent alternative bait from being introduced or used, but members were in agreement that alternative bait needs some state oversight.
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