June 21, 2012 — A manufacturing breakdown delays plastic license tags required for traps, costing fishermen time and money.
A manufacturing problem has delayed the production of license tags for lobster traps, forcing hundreds of lobstermen in New England to wait weeks to set their traps for the season.
Stoffel Seals, a division of TydenBrooks of Congers, N.Y., said a machine's breakdown in May delayed its production of the plastic tags. It expects to be on its regular shipment schedule before the end of July.
Normally, it takes 15 business days for lobstermen to get the numbered, color-coded tags. Stoffel said it's now taking an additional 10 to 12 business days.
However, the Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association said it was told that the company is eight weeks behind schedule.
Stoffel, which supplies lobstermen in New England and Canada, said it doesn't know how many tags were delayed.
"Any other year, a delay would not be as big of an issue," said Lyman Kennedy of Falmouth, who fishes 600 traps out of Union Wharf in Portland.
But with soft-shell lobsters abundant early this year, he estimates that he will miss out on $15,000 to $20,000 by having to wait to set his traps.
"My sternman's out of money, too," he said. "That's two families out of money."
Maine's 4,500 lobstermen are required to have license tags on their traps by June 1.
The delay has affected more than 100 of them, said Joseph Fessenden, chief of the Maine Marine Patrol. Fessenden said he doesn't know the total number of traps that must be kept out of the water.
A commercial lobsterman can fish with as many as 800 traps.
Because of Stoffel's manufacturing problems, the Maine Department of Marine Resources has bent its rules somewhat.
Lobstermen will be allowed to set their traps four weeks after they order tags, so if the tags remain unavailable, the lobstermen can fish without fear of having their traps seized, Fessenden said.
"It's been a struggle for a lot of people," he said. "The majority of fishermen got their tags. But for whatever reason — whether it's the expense or a personal issue — some people ordered later and they are without tags. We showed some flexibility."
The tags cost 50 cents each, so a lobsterman who fishes 800 traps pays $400 to the state.
Maine and Massachusetts are the nation's two leading lobster harvesters.