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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 36 Number 8
April 2009
ME Fishermen’s Forum turnout an inspiration
Sometimes the best thing to do in hard times is to seek out the company of others going through the same thing. That’s what happened during the Maine Fishermen’s Forum, which was held March 5-8. People, especially lobstermen, got together, groused some, but also took a little comfort just in knowing they were not alone.
The lobster industry has been pounded again and again over the last year. Soaring fuel costs and bait shortages were followed by the news that the sinking groundline requirement was a done deal. And then came the market crash, fueled by the stumbling global economy, which pushed lobster prices below the break-even point.
Some lobstermen, sick of complicated, intrusive rules just up and quit. Others who no longer could make the economics of their businesses work had no choice but to throw in the towel. Regardless of how they did it, every lobsterman who dropped out left a void that their hometown neighbors will feel for a long time both in their hearts and in the local economy. And we know that some lobstermen are still on the verge of making that difficult decision.
But a good number of lobstermen have been able to ride out the turbulence and now are doing what they need to do to get ready for the season.
Many exhibitors at the Maine forum came away generally feeling OK about how things went. Not only did they report that the turnout exceeded their expectations, but they said the general mood of the fishermen who attended was a lot more positive than it might have been.
Families with small children roamed the halls. The “Decompression Chamber” did its job, allowing people to get together, listen to some good music, watch a film, reminisce over photos of fishing the way it used to be, and just talk to each other.
Things aren’t likely to get a whole lot better any time soon in either the general economy or the lobster industry. But no one is sitting on their hands.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s new Clean Marine Engine Program created quite a buzz at the forum among fishermen and engine dealers because it truly might help stimulate the economy.
As Commercial Fisheries News was going to press, the office of US Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) confirmed that an additional $100,000 in federal funding is headed to the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation to help more lobstermen pay the significant costs of converting over to sinking groundline.
And the Governor’s Task Force on the Economic Sustainability of Maine’s Lobster Industry followed through on its promise and held public meetings in February and March, including one at the forum, to hear firsthand what lobstermen think should be done to improve the lobster market. The task force’s final report is due out on April 15 and, hopefully, will map out a strategy for restoring and stabilizing the industry for the future.
For a few wintry days in early March, fishermen who had the reserves, both financial and emotional, traveled to the Maine Fishermen’s Forum. By their presence and attitude, they once again showed that people in this business take the trials of life in hand, ask how best to deal with them, and then move forward. It was inspirational to witness. /cfn/
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