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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 34 Number 12
August 2007
Spawn herring vote puts ME at odds with ASMFC
AUGUSTA, ME – It might not seem like the busiest of summer seasons, but a lot has been happening on the Maine fisheries regulatory front.
On June 20, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Advisory Council voted against accepting the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) rules on zero tolerance for spawning herring in Maine waters.
The vote, which brings Maine out of compliance with the ASMFC herring plan, was 0-7 with two advisory council members abstaining.
On May 15, the DMR held a public hearing to discuss a proposed amendment to Maine’s herring regulations that would bring the state into compliance with Technical Addendum 1 to Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring.
The proposal would have closed down herring fishing in Area 1A in the later part of summer or early fall when spawning closures are in effect.
At the hearing, industry people offered a conservation equivalency alternative. However, the DMR could not adopt it because the proposal did not meet biological requirements in the interstate plan and would require a statutory change by the Legislature.
Maine last year strongly disagreed with ASMFC’s zero tolerance provision and the state moved ahead with rule-making that interpreted zero tolerance to mean that no “ripe and running” herring in gonadal stages V and VI would be allowed on board during a closure.
The ASMFC rejected that measure and told Maine that to come into compliance, it would have to modify its regulations to ban fishing on any herring in the spawning closure areas.
According to the DMR, if Maine does not adopt this rule, then the ASMFC policy board could vote to find the state out of compliance at its August 2007 meeting and forward the finding to the secretary of commerce for corrective action.
The secretary of commerce has the authority to suspend Maine’s herring fishery.
“The advisory council felt it was important enough to go against the ASMFC on this issue and take it back to Washington for another try,” said Bob Baines in mid-July.
Dealer reporting
As of June 25, Maine seafood dealers and retailers had to begin reporting all species purchased directly from harvesters to the DMR on a monthly basis by the 10th of the following month.
DMR began to look at how to handle reporting requirements for seafood dealers back in 2004 and established a reporting advisory committee made up of harvesters and dealers from different communities and fisheries.
The department held eight public information meetings and presented information at two Maine Fishermen’s Forums. Staff members also met with dealers to take comment and discuss concerns.
“There are about 650 dealers and retailers who are licensed to buy from harvesters,” said Heidi Bray of the DMR commercial landings program. “Of the 650, about 80 are federally permitted and have to report trip landings to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).”
The new reporting requirement consolidates various data reporting requirements to one agency – either DMR or NMFS – and eliminates duplication.
Dealers who report purchases to NMFS through the federal system do not have to report to DMR.
The DMR has seven methods of reporting for dealers to choose from – four paper formats and three electronic. Bray said DMR staff people are in the field and ready to assist dealers and retailers.
Anyone from Knox County to the Canadian border who needs help should call Eileen Brewer at (207) 592-2738. Dealers from Lincoln County to Kittery should call Sherri White at (207) 592-2746.
Fuel exemption
On July 1, the one-year fuel sales tax exemption began for groundfish vessels. The program, which was tacked on to the Maine budget in the final hours of the legislative session, will run until June 30, 2008.
In early July, the Maine Revenue Service reported that it had received a list of 76 qualifying vessels from the DMR and that the “Special Notice Regarding Purchases made by Groundfishing Boats” and a “Sales Tax Exemption Affidavit” had been mailed out to qualifying vessel owners.
Additionally, the revenue service mailed the special notice to a handful of fuel dealers.
Fishermen should note that this exemption at the pump is available for “dyed diesel fuel” and that if you use “clear diesel fuel” you will need to complete a “Maine Special Fuel and Gasoline Tax Refund Application.”
Fishermen also will need to provide a copy of the affidavit to the fuel dealer, along with a copy of their current Maine commercial fishing license.
For more information, call Sara Lewis of the Maine Revenue Service at (207) 624-9608.
If you need a “Maine Special Fuel and Gasoline Tax Refund Application,” you can get one online at: <www.maine.gov/revenue/fueltax/refund%20programs/
off%20highway/Off%20Highway%20(0707).pdf>.
Make sure to put your boat name or hull number in Section 2 on the front of the form on the line labeled as “other.”
Money available
The 8th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management will be held at the Delta Prince Edward hotel in Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island Sept. 23-28.
At press time, the DMR still had money available to help fishermen defray the costs of attending the conference. Maine lobstermen who are interested should contact Deirdre Gilbert at (207) 624-6576 or <deirdre.gilbert@maine.gov>.
More information on the conference is available on its web site at <www.lobsterscience.ca/conference/index.htm>.
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