Lobster Zone G Council Meeting
Atlantic Hall, Cape Porpoise
September 10, 2007 – 7:00 p.m.

Present: Peter Eaton, David Provencher, Nathaniel Marshall, Harold Place, Brad Parady, Matt Nowell, Steve Taylor, Jodie M. Jordan, Jim Henderson, Laurin Brooks, Scott Doherty, Norm Nunan, Wayne Perkins, Gary Cummings, Howard Gray, Jim Alwin, Charles Garnache, Eric Wallace, Sen. Nancy Sullivan, Rep. John McDonough, Sarah Cotnoir and Sgt. Rick LaFlamme.

Meeting began at 7:00 p.m.

The minutes from the May 2, 2007 meeting were accepted.

John Butler is stepping down from the LCMT position. Jim Henderson would like to pass his LAC position on to someone else.

DMR Updates:

Mesh size on escape panel – 4” X 4” (3” X 3” mesh size is the law now). This recommendation for change was brought to DMR by Sonny Sprague, our council all said “no”.

Lobster Zones A, B, C, D, E and F have now adopted the new apprentice rules.

Alternative bait manufacturers must now label their bait to show the list of ingredients.

Herring – DMR Advisory Council voted down the rulemaking and Maine was found out of compliance.

Harvester reporting – There is a public hearing on September 20th at Scarborough High School. Federal lobster permit holders can photocopy their FVTR’s for each day of fishing. All dealers and restaurants that wholesale lobster will be required to report starting January 2008.

Fishing reports throughout the zone – so-so, not to good, medium, nothing, dropped off, nothing to write home about, average at best, long soaks are the only way to go (Cape Porpoise.)

All in agreement for Zone G controlled entry referendum. A Zone F fisherman should not be able to apprentice a Zone G fisherman.

Exemption lines given – Gear outside exemption line can have no floating lines between traps.

At the LAC meeting next week there could be a suggestion of a 10 cent tag increase to support whale science. Sen. Nancy Sullivan suggests there be a sunset clause so when the feds say “it’s time to do our thing”, the 10 cents goes away. Jim Henderson will tell the council about the 10 cent tag increase and the sunset clause, and how we’re in favor of it.

September 17th is the comment deadline for FEIS Preferred Alternative 6 Gear Modification requirements.

Final legislative actions go in to affect September 20th -5:1 = 4000 tags out, 800 tags in. 1st year license holder is allowed 300 – over a 5 year period he can build up to 800 tags. By September 20th New Hampshire fishermen will have to purchase a landing license for 2K+ and the following year in order for them to be able to buy again they must have only purchased 800 trap tags – they must follow the most restrictive Maine laws.

Meeting adjourned at 10:35 pm

Minutes submitted by Brad Parady