Yesterday, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) voted to repeal the gauge and vent size changes originally adopted in Addendum XXVII. ASMFC’s press release can be found here.
This was driven in large part by the Maine lobster industry’s strong objection to the gauge increase. With the gauge increase repealed, it is now critical that Maine develop a path forward that is informed by industry insight, observation, and vision for the future.
To accomplish this, the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is developing a survey in collaboration with the Lobster Advisory Council to capture current perceptions of the Maine lobster industry about the resource, the fishery, and industry economics. The goal is to encourage broad participation from the lobster industry. Results of this survey will be used to inform future conversations, including discussions at Zone Council meetings and future ASMFC meetings.
DMR’s objective is to work with industry, including the associations that represent fishermen, to ensure the strong participation necessary to provide results that reflect the views of the entire Maine lobster industry.
The plan is to engage a representative subcommittee of Lobster Advisory Council members to develop the survey in the next few weeks, and to distribute it to all license holders, with results available to share with industry for feedback which will be presented to ASMFC during the Fall meeting.
Carl Wilson
Commissioner
Maine Department of Marine Resources