Maine Lobster Zone A Council Meeting Minutes, March 6, 2007

Zone A Meeting
Lobster Zone Council
Gouldsboro Firehouse # 3
March 6, 2007
6:00 p.m.

Introduction

J. Drouin – Called the meeting to order

Approval of minutes

The minutes from the January 30, 2007 meeting were approved.

Reports and Updates

a. Lobster Advisory Council

John Drouin updated the council on the last LAC meeting and Sonny Sprague's two trap construction ideas (larger escape panel and smaller mesh on bottom of trap). The Zone A council didn't completely support the ideas. Some members said they could maybe do a 3 x 4 square, but not 5 x 5. One of the concerns with the smaller mesh on bottom was how quickly water would flow through setting and hauling up the trap.

John Drouin also wants to revisit no oversized lobsters from Canada being transported through the State. The council had discussion about the 20 fathom maximum tailer length. Council members did not think it would be a problem for any fishermen in their Zone A.

b. Code of Ethics & Bylaws

Council members signed the Code of Ethics and the Zone A Bylaws.

c. Lobster Management Option Results

The council voted on their apprentice options individually (sponsor required to hold license for 5 years and apprentice must apprentice in Zone A to get a Zone A license). All Zone A council members voted in favor for both questions and want to move forward with rulemaking to make this effective as soon as the rulemaking process is complete. The council gave Sarah Cotnoir a recommendation letter for the Commissioner.

d. DMR Update

LD 16 - An Act to Make Lobster Trap Molesting a Civil Offense - All in favor.

LD 621 - Resolve, To Establish a Lobster Trap Tag Transfer Program - No support. The council questioned if this could allow someone to exceed the 800-trap limit. Also stated this would be difficult for enforcement to keep track of tags.

LD 311 - An Act to Create a Nonresident Lobster and Crab Landing Permit - There was much discussion about Area 3 boats willing to drop down to Maine's conservation measures and buying into this. The council suggested adding in Maine's owner/operator language to address Shaftmaster concern. Also suggested making the permit more expensive than what's proposed. With some tidying up of the language, the council would support the bill.

LD 92 - An Act To Modify the Boundaries of Maine's Lobster Fishing Zones - No support.

LD 691 - An Act to Modify Lobster License Fees - All in favor.

LD 509 - An Act to Amend Laws Pertaining to Entry into the Lobster Fishery - Discussion around "students never being affected" and with this law, they would. The council thought there was too much in this bill. They unanimously supported the "Age 17 to get a commercial license." Council unanimously opposed the other two components: Student waiting list and using tags in the exit ratio.

No date was set for the next meeting

Motion was made to adjourn.