ROCKPORT, Maine — Commercial shrimp fishermen who already have gone two years without a harvest shared sharply divided opinions about the future of their fishery Saturday at the 40th annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum.
The Maine Department of Marine Fisheries held a public hearing at the Samoset Resort event to learn what the fishermen think about proposed amendments to the northern shrimp management plan, which could limit access to the fishery. As of now, if the shrimp population rebounds and the fishery is reopened, anyone who pays for a commercial fishing license can drag a net or drop traps to harvest the small, tasty crustacean.
Some fishermen in the room seemed in favor of any change to the fishery that might increase its chances of survival, but others were vehemently opposed to anything that would limit access.
“I think there’s too much regulation going on,” Jim Hanscom of Bar Harbor said. “Pitting fishermen against fishermen is just no good. Limited entry, it’s just cutting people out … I think it’s foolish. Maybe just leave it alone, and let it be.”
Last November, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission decided to keep the Gulf of Maine shrimp season closed for the second consecutive winter. The interstate commission made the ruling after the 2014 shrimp stock status report indicated that the current fishable biomass in the gulf is the lowest on record.
Officials from the commission said in November that they considered the stock to have collapsed, with little prospect of recovery in the immediate future. While scientists have said they do not know for certain why the fishery collapsed, sharply increasing water temperatures in the gulf, a decrease in phytoplankton, which shrimp eat, and a rise in predators, all are suspected in the decline.
Fisheries officials present Saturday in Rockport told the fishermen they were seeking comment on a public information document that outlined the issues with the shrimp fishery. The northern shrimp section of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will consider the comments as commissioners develop the first draft of an amendment to the shrimp fishery management plan.
Two years ago, the fishery had an active fleet of about 150 boats, of which 120 were based in Maine. Fishermen such as Arnold Gamage of South Bristol clearly are eager to get back to work searching for shrimp.
“I want to go back shrimping as fast as I can,” he said. “I think the people of the state of Maine deserve the right to eat shrimp. I’ve seen more people begging and calling for shrimp than you can even imagine.”
He suggested one solution would be to stop catching egg-bearing shrimp.
Gary Libby, a commercial fisherman from Port Clyde, said Saturday that he is in favor of regulations that would help the shrimp return to the Gulf of Maine, including limiting entry to the fishery and capping the catch.
“We want our shrimp resource back,” he said. “It’s real important to the state of Maine.”
He added that there should be a way to include new participants in the fishery “in the future somehow.”
But fishermen such as Frank Varrian of Sebasco were emphatic in their belief that the fishery should remain open to new participants.
“The lobster industry [a limited access fishery] is in the biggest mess right now,” he said. “The whole fleet is 70 years old, for the most part. Nobody can get in.”
Public comment on the public information document about the proposed amendment 3 to the northern shrimp fishery management plan will be accepted until 5 p.m. April 15, 2015. Comments can be submitted via mail to Mike Waine, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 1005 North Highland Street, Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA 22201 or by emailing to comments@asmfc.org, with the subject line “Northern Shrimp Amendment 3.”
BDN writer Bill Trotter contributed to this report.