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Friday, January 10, 2020

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Chapter 8, 36, 41 & 55

The Maine Department of Marine Resources has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: 

BRIEF SUMMARY: This proposed rulemaking updates reporting requirements for herring and menhaden. The Primary Buyer Permit reporting elements for herring have been expanded and will be required weekly. The Herring Harvester Permit reporting requirements have been expanded and will be required daily. The Menhaden Harvester Permit has been introduced and will be required daily during the quota fisheries and weekly during the small scale fishery.

BRIEF SUMMARY: This proposed regulation reorganizes the Atlantic herring fishery quota for Area 1A into trimesters, as previously used. Updated definitions for landing, and carrier vessel are enclosed. The Fixed Gear Set Aside has been reduced from 39 mt to 30 mt to comply with 2020 specifications.

BRIEF SUMMARY: This proposed rulemaking amends the reporting of menhaden landings; reporting through an approved electronic option will be required. State and episodic fisheries remain at daily reporting. The Incidental and Small Scale fishery is amended to a weekly reporting requirement. This rulemaking introduces a personal use bait permit that will allow harvesters to use a bait gillnet to take three barrels of menhaden daily, separate from all other menhaden fishery activity. Carrier vessels are defined and effort restrictions for their activity have been described. Harvester vessels may make one transfer of menhaden to a carrier vessel per calendar day. Carrier vessels are prohibited from participating in the Incidental and Small Scale fishery. 

BRIEF SUMMARY: This proposed rulemaking strikes the requirement to seek a permit authorized by the Commissioner of Marine Resources to use purse seine gear targeting Atlantic menhaden in the Damariscotta and Saint George Rivers.

Date, time and location of PUBLIC HEARING (if any):
  • Chapter 8: January 27, 2020 at 4:00 p.m., Marquardt Building, Room 118, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta.
  • Chapter 36: January 27, 2020 at 4:30 p.m., Marquardt Building, Room 118, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta.
  • Chapter 41: January 27, 2020 at 5:00 p.m., Marquardt Building, Room 118, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta.
COMMENT DEADLINE: February 10, 2020

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