Lobster Zone G Council Meeting
York Village Fire Department
March 17, 2008 – 7:00 p.m.

Present: Peter Eaton, Harold E. Place, Brad Parady, Gardner Marshall, Matt Nowell, Steve Taylor, Jodie M. Jordan, Jim Henderson, Howard Gray, Charles Gray, Scott Doherty, Mike Sinclair, Ed Foye, Alvin Harmon, Chris Eager, Christopher Foye, George Foye, Donald Foye, Commissioner George Lapointe, Sarah Cotnoir, Kathleen Reardon, Melissa Smith, Sgt. Rick LaFlamme.

Meeting began at 7:00 p.m.

The minutes from the September meeting were approved.

Commissioner Lapointe said the statewide whale rules will go in to effect on October 5 requiring us to use sink line and talked a little bit about Maine’s Low-Profile proposal.

The Boone Island guys want to be able to fish singles as they always have. There have been 3 whales sighted since 1966. Guys to the east are using yellow low-profile rope and seem to like it. Isle of Shoals guys need to fish singles too. The other issue raised was safety – fishing pairs instead of singles is more of a risk because of hang downs.

The DMR harvester reporting is up and running as of January 1st. Zone C sent out a survey on limiting entry in their zone and will be voting on whether to close their zone. The Commissioner has been signing a lot of license revocations because of a huge increase in v-notch and short lobster violations. Commissioner Lapointe said that landings are down 23%. George said this may be the reason for all the violations lately. Oversized, eggers and trap molestation violations have not increased. CFN will run an article about this issue.

Carl Wilson was asked the question, “What science do you look at when lobstering peaks?” Carl says the scientists look at new trends, in the past four years there has been a decline. Guys who are used to catching big catches are finding it difficult to fish at a higher cost, example: fuel, bait, traps costs. There has been a huge change in the non-trap sector – draggers have been rumored to be taking a far higher amount of lobsters than the 500 pieces. The biggest sizes are being taken – not many 1 pounders.

The lobster dragging issue has been visited again by members of the Portland Fish Exchange. There is an alewife bill about allowing alewives in the lower mouth of the St. Croix River.

Trap tags are running about 6-8 weeks from the time of the application date.

District reports where given:

Jodie Jordan – shrimpers are a problem
Gardner – mostly concerned with whales
Laurin – quiet
Brad – shrimp draggers and whales
Harold – no lobsters up river yet
Steve – no much going on
Matt – quiet
Peter – quiet
Jim – ¼ # per trap

Limited entry survey – sent out to 446 people and 180 responded, recommended a 5:1 exit ratio by Steve Taylor, seconded by Brad Parady. All in favor.

Commissioner Lapointe will look in to what is reasonable and what is not reasonable as far as the exit/entrance ratio.

At this week’s LAC meeting effort reduction will be discussed.

Melissa Smith spoke to us about the Regional Ventless Trap Program. There has been an increase in 2007 over 2006 in Area 513. Surveys are done from June to August with Ed Hutchins. Southern Maine was the bright spot on the coast – resource may be looking up. (F/V = Christine May)

Carl suggested that we put more 1 15/16 (rectangles) vents in our traps – he feels the traps are a cleaner fishing trap.

There was a lot of discussion on the striped bass problem we’re having.

Double tagging – Wardens have boarded boats with 200 traps without tags.

Low profile rope – some experimental rope is being tried out amongst 60 fishermen.

Elliott Thomas brought up the issue of tugs and barges, he’d like to see them travel in a certain bearing line and have them steam with their bridles up. One concern would be the tugs would not want any gear on that particular bearing line.

The Area 1 LCMT meeting is in Portsmouth on March 25th.

Meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Brad Parady