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Feature Articles
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Maine readies for May 6 start to spring inshore trawl survey
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This article is reprinted with permission of Commercial Fisheries News, the Northeast's fishing newspaper for over 30 years, ©2003 Compass Publications Inc. Commercial Fisheries News is published monthly; annual subscriptions are $21.95. To subscribe or request a sample issue: call (877) 263-4496; fax (207) 367-2490; e-mail (cfoster@fish-news.com); or click on the hot link.
WEST BOOTHBAY HARBOR, ME - After a winter of talking with fishermen and gear technologists about gear impacts and solving gear conflict issues, the Maine Department of Marine Resources was ready to begin its spring trawl survey of Maine and New Hampshire inshore waters.
The survey will begin the week of May 6 and continue through the first week of June. Mailings were going out on a schedule that would alert lobstermen to when the survey boat would be in their area.
"We try to stagger them (mailings) so they get to the people about two weeks in advance, not sooner or later," said John Sowles, director of the DMR ecology division, who is point main for the survey.
All western lobster Zone council members as well as a general mailing to western coastal fishermen had gone out by the last week of April. Downeast mailings were going to begin in May.
Tows were planned to be done on the following schedule:
- May 6 - New Hampshire into Saco Bay;
- May 13 - Casco and Muscongus bays;
- May 20 - Penobscot Bay;
- May 27 - Blue Hill, Jericho, and Frenchman bays; and
- June 3 - Gouldsboro to New Brunswick.
The spring trawl survey vessel is the 54' Tara Lynn captained by Sam Galli, who skippered the vessel for last spring's work.
All information about the survey can be found on the DMR web site at . Daily announcements of the vessel's plan will also be made on the NOAA weather radio channel.
Some changes:
Responding to tensions between lobstermen and the survey boat, greater emphasis will be placed on communications this year, Sowles said.
"The boat crew will be much more vocal on the radio trying to work with local fishermen," he said.
The Tara Lynn crew will announce its intent over the local channels every morning on way to tows.
More effort will also be put into avoiding lobster gear, Sowles said. The Marine Patrol will have an expanded presence as well, to assist in moving gear and helping to avoid conflict with fishermen.
A report on the inshore trawl survey from 2000 and 2001. To get a copy, or to discuss survey concerns, questions, and schedule details, contact John Sowles at (207) 633-9518 or e-mail John.Sowles@state.me.us.
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