MACHIAS, Maine — August 12, 2014 — The state Department of Marine Resources, acceding to the wishes of the Scallop Advisory Council, has proposed that draggers and divers be allowed to fish for scallops the same number of days in 2014-15 as the previous season.
However, Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher put fishermen on notice that the department likely will be faced with having to take emergency action to curtail the season.
The agency — following the advice of staff experts — initially had proposed reducing the number of days in all three fishing zones for the upcoming season to allow scallop stocks to continue to rebuild. The department had proposed cutting 22 days in Zones 1 and 2, which make up most of the coast, and 18 days in Zone 3, the scallop-rich Cobscook Bay region.
The council voted at a June 30 meeting 6-3 — with two abstentions — in favor of keeping the number of fishing days the same.
The proposed 2014-2015 scallop season, announced by DMR on Monday, calls essentially for a 70-day season in Zones 1 and 2 and a 15-gallon daily limit with separate calendars for divers and draggers. For Zone 3, a 50-day season and 10-gallon daily limit is proposed with separate calendars for divers and draggers. There are additional rules proposed for limited-access areas in Zones 1 and 3.
Although the number of days would be the same as the 2013-14 season, fishermen did not get to fish all the days that were initially set for this past season. Because DMR determined that more scallops were being harvested than its target goal, 17 days were cut from the Cobscook Bay region, and there were targeted closures in Zones 1 and 2. Keliher indicated the same scenario is likely for the 2014-15 season.
The agency held a series of meetings with fishermen before the council’s June session.
Read the full story at Bangor Daily News