ELLSWORTH, Maine โ March 27, 2014 โ A last-minute bid by the Passamaquoddy Tribe to avoid a requirement to impose individual catch quotas on its licensed elver fishermen has come up short.
Rep. Madonna Soctomah, the tribeโs representative in the Legislature, proposed an emergency bill that would have allowed legislators to consider whether the tribe should adhere to one tribal catch quota for elvers instead of setting individual quotas for each of its members.
The Legislative Council, 10 legislative leaders who decide which proposed bills can move forward for consideration during the shorter second session, on Thursday rejected Soctomahโs proposal, according to council staff. The rejection means that the Passamaquoddys and Maineโs three other federally recognized Indian groups will have to assign individual quotas to their licensed members if they want to receive required electronic transaction cards from the state.
Newell Lewey, a Passamaquoddy tribal council member at Pleasant Point, said Thursday evening that the vote in Augusta was not a surprise. What avenue the tribe might pursue next is the โ1,600 pound question,โ he said, referring to the tribeโs expected overall quota for this year.
Lewey said the Passamaquoddyโs joint tribal council, which includes elected tribal officials from Pleasant Point and Indian Township, is expected to meet at 10 a.m. Friday, March 28, to discuss the matter.
Read the full story at the Bangor Daily News