Saving Seafood

MAINE: Survey finds Maine lobster fishers remain wary of whale conservation measures, but optimistic for industry

October 6, 2025 — A recently released survey of Maine lobster harvesters and processers found the industry remains worried that right whale conservation measures will impact their business, although roughly half of respondents expressed optimism for the fishery’s future.

The Maine Department of Marine Resource (DMR) said 1,366 people responded to its survey, which it released in September. Nearly all of the respondents were harvesters, although 66 dealers also participated. According to DMR, roughly 29 percent of the people involved in the state lobster industry took part in the survey.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

MAINE: Herring hearing

March 2, 2020 — Atlantic herring, which is the fish used for bait by most Maine lobstermen, was expensive and hard to come by in 2019.

In 2020, the catch limit set by interstate fishery regulators will be even lower than last year, but the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is working on ways to provide more flexibility in how the quota is allocated.

A hearing on Draft Addendum III for the herring fishery management plan is planned for March 9 at 6 p.m. at the Maine Department of Marine Resources Augusta office.

Read the full story at the Mount Desert Islander

Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund grant improves Marine Patrol surveillance abilities

November 2, 2018 — AUGUSTA — With a $3,200 grant from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund and matching funds of $2,339.50 from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the Maine Marine Patrol has purchased binoculars that will improve officers’ ability to conduct surveillance for enforcement and search and rescue.

The new 14×40 Fujinon Image Stabilization binoculars have been distributed to the Marine Patrol’s fleet of large patrol vessels throughout the state, replacing previous models that had only 7x magnification.

“The enhanced magnification allows Marine Patrol officers to survey more area in greater detail,” said Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish. “This is especially important as more fishing activity is moving farther offshore.

Read the full article on Bangor Daily News

New Maine program aims to help fund recovery of wild salmon

October 26, 2018 — Maine’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR) has announced a new program aimed at helping to fund the recovery of wild caught Atlantic salmon in the US state while also reducing the regulatory burdens associated with road and bridge construction projects.

The Atlantic Salmon Restoration and Conservation Program (ASRCP) will provide public and private parties working on road and bridge construction projects the flexibility to pay a fee in lieu of the mitigation efforts required by federal law to offset the unavoidable environmental impacts of the construction activity, DMR explains in a press release.

The idea takes advantage of the existing In-Lieu Fee (ILF) program created in 2008 by the Army Corps of Engineers. It requires that funds paid by companies doing such work be used to support other restoration work that results in, at a minimum, no net loss of habitat or habitat function.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News