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Green Sea Urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) in Maine

Some of the links below are PDF files, and may require Adobe Reader software (download free here) .  Please visit our PDF Help page if you have trouble with PDF files, or contact Maggie Hunter if you need a different format.

 

• 2011-2012 Maine Sea Urchin Fishing Season Calendars - PDF file, 2 pages, 17 kb
• Maine Sea Urchin Zone Council Page
• Maine Sea Urchin Fishery and Research Information
• Maine Sea Urchin Fishery Laws and Regulations (Chapter 26, PDF file)
• Commercial Fishing License Applications (see Marine Harvesting Application)
• News, most recent first:
  • Portland Press Herald sea urchin article, Dec. 28, 2011
  • The sea urchin fishing seasons for 2011-12 have been adopted as proposed (10 days for Zone 1 and 45 days for Zone 2, similar to last year). See the calendars at the first bullet above for details. See the full text of the regulations and public comments here: Zone 1   Zone 2.
  • The Whiting Bay and Denny's Bay closure has been extended to May 1, 2012
  • Mandatory logbook reporting for Zone 1 harvesters will begin in September, 2010. Harvesters will be mailed forms and instructions. See the regulation text here as it was amended, PDF file, 5 pages, 49 kb. This regulation expires May 1, 2012.
  • New safety training requirements for divers and tenders, effective Dec. 21, 2009
  • Bangor Daily News sea urchin article, October 8, 2009
  • Effective Sept. 21, 2009, the harvest of sea urchins (and scallops) in Whiting Bay and Denny's Bay is prohibited.
• Licensing Notes:
• Zone 1 draggers must choose an early or late season by November 15.
• Zone 1 divers who wish to change their early/late season designation must do so by September 1.
• Zone 2 harvesters who wish to change their early/late season designation must do so by August 15.
• Harvesters who wish to switch zones must apply by July 31.  Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. A switch from Zone 1 to Zone 2 is only allowed if there is an applicant who wishes to switch from Zone 2 to Zone 1, and vice versa. 
• For more information, call the DMR licensing division at 624-6550.

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