Bills before Maine's Marine Resources Committee in the first session of the 132nd Legislature

 Bills before the Marine Resources Committee  in the first session of the 132nd legislature. (Scond session is underway )

Committee Members list:Click on the above link and scroll halfway down the page. List will be on left size of page . 

Link to written public testimomy  submitted to the Committee, regarding the 40 bills below  Future testimony will be added there  as it comes in 

The Bills: 

1.	LD 44	(HP8)
	An Act to Amend the Laws Pertaining to Elver Fishing
2.	LD 64	(HP28)
	An Act to Eliminate the Cultchless American Oyster Growers License
3.	LD 144	(SP80)
	An Act to Create a Limited Retail Seafood Harvester Certificate
4.	LD 214	(HP137)
	An Act to Create a For-hire Charter Boat Operator License and to Require Individuals Recreationally Fishing for Halibut in Coastal Waters to Register with the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry
5.	LD 325	(HP225)
	An Act Related to the Disbursement of Revenue Generated from the Harvesting of River Herring
6.	LD 336	(HP236)
	An Act to Change the Waiting List System for Commercial Lobster and Crab Fishing Licenses
7.	LD 475	(SP215)
	An Act to Protect Maine's Marine Resources
8.	LD 489	(HP318)
	An Act to Provide for a Vessel Breakdown License Exception for Commercial Halibut Fishing License Holders
9.	LD 553	(SP208)
	An Act to Assert State Sovereignty over Ocean Waters and Marine Resources up to 12 Nautical Miles off the State's Coast
10.	LD 619	(HP387)
	An Act Related to Marine Resources and Maine's Working Waterfront
11.	LD 687	(SP304)
	An Act to Assert State Ownership over Ocean Waters up to 12 Nautical Miles and Submerged Lands and Marine Resources up to 24 Nautical Miles off the State's Coast and to Direct the Attorney General to Study That Ownership
12.	LD 816	(HP523)
	An Act Regarding the Emptying of Elver Fyke Nets
13.	LD 851	(HP537)
	An Act to Establish a Senior Retiree Lobster License
14.	LD 968	(HP628)
	Resolve, to Study Stakeholder Input Involving the Appointment of the Commissioner of Marine Resources
15.	LD 1026	(SP444)
	An Act to Provide Mapping Services for Aquaculture Lease Siting
16.	LD 1094	(HP716)
	An Act to Prohibit a Person from Obtaining an Elver Dealer's License for a Minimum of 5 Years in Cases of Repeat Violations of License Conditions
17.	LD 1172	(HP777)
	An Act to Enact the Passamaquoddy Fisheries and Workforce Development Act
18.	LD 1176	(HP781)
	An Act to Provide for the Sustainable Management of Marine Resources and Create a Noncommercial Northern Shrimp License
19.	LD 1253	(HP828)
	An Act to Authorize the Commissioner of Marine Resources to Add Limited-access Area Fishing Days During the Scallop Season
20.	LD 1279	(HP854)
	An Act to Require the Department of Marine Resources to Conduct Biotoxin Testing of Cultured Scallops
21.	LD 1319	(SP549)
	An Act to Amend the Law Regarding the Suspension of Licenses Issued by the Department of Marine Resources for Failure to Comply with Reporting Requirements
22.	LD 1341	(SP556)
	Resolve, Directing the Department of Marine Resources to Evaluate How to Effectively Allow 2 Licensed Individuals to Fish for Lobsters or Scallops from a Single Vessel
23.	LD 1352	(HP875)
	An Act to Amend Provisions Regarding the Scallop Fishery License Apprentice Program, Licensing and Limited Access Areas
24.	LD 1353	(HP876)
	An Act Regarding Required Landings in the Menhaden Fishery
25.	LD 1503	(HP987)
	An Act to Create a Green Crab Only Wholesale Dealer License ============================= 26. LD 1561 (HP1019) Resolve, Regarding the Percentage of a Lobster and Crab Fishing Licensee's Lobster Traps That May Be Fished in a Lobster Management Zone Listed on the License as a Secondary Zone 27. LD 1595 (HP1053) An Act to Strengthen Working Waterfronts Against Nuisance Complaints Regarding Aquaculture 28. LD 1596 (HP1054) An Act to Support Maine's Sea Farmers 29. LD 1625 (HP1079) An Act Regarding the Preservation of Working Waterfronts 30. LD 1678 (HP1113) An Act to Allocate Commercial Menhaden Fishing Licenses for Island Communities 31. LD 1679 (HP1114) An Act to Allocate Scallop Dragging Licenses for Island Communities 32. LD 1708 (HP1143) An Act to Create the Commercial Fishing Safety Fund to Further Develop Training and Provide Equipment to Recover Ships and Other Watercraft and Persons in Distress or Lost at Sea 33. LD 1722 (HP1149) An Act to Simplify the Regulation of Aquaculture Leases 34. LD 1790 (HP1201) An Act Regarding Lobster Measurement 35. LD 1991 (SP803) An Act to Authorize an Educational Requirement for Seaweed Permit Holders 36. LD 2002 (SP816) An Act to Extend the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative to December 31, 2031 37. LD 2013 (HP1343) An Act to Authorize the Commissioner of Marine Resources to Adopt Emergency Rules to Protect Certain Marine Mammals in Exceptional Circumstances 38. LD 2024 (HP1354) An Act to Make Changes to Certain Licensing Laws Governing For-hire Charter Boat Operators, Lobster and Crab Fishing and Elver Dealers 39. LD 2025 (HP1355) An Act to Create a Limited-purpose License for Aquaculture Nursery and Husbandry Activities and to Clarify the Aquaculture Lease Amendment Process 40. LD 2031 (HP1361) An Act to Offer Military Veterans a 50 Percent Discount on the License Fee for a Commercial Shellfish License 26. LD 1561 (HP1019) Resolve, Regarding the Percentage of a Lobster and Crab Fishing Licensee's Lobster Traps That May Be Fished in a Lobster Management Zone Listed on the License as a Secondary Zone 27. LD 1595 (HP1053) An Act to Strengthen Working Waterfronts Against Nuisance Complaints Regarding Aquaculture 28. LD 1596 (HP1054) An Act to Support Maine's Sea Farmers 29. LD 1625 (HP1079) An Act Regarding the Preservation of Working Waterfronts 30. LD 1678 (HP1113) An Act to Allocate Commercial Menhaden Fishing Licenses for Island Communities 31. LD 1679 (HP1114) An Act to Allocate Scallop Dragging Licenses for Island Communities 32. LD 1708 (HP1143) An Act to Create the  to Further Develop Training and Provide Equipment to Recover Ships and Other Watercraft and Persons in Distress or Lost at Sea 33. LD 1722 (HP1149) An Act to Simplify the Regulation of Aquaculture Leases 34. LD 1790 (HP1201) An Act Regarding Lobster Measurement 35. LD 1991 (SP803) An Act to Authorize an Educational Requirement for Seaweed Permit Holders 36. LD 2002 (SP816) An Act to Extend the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative to December 31, 2031 37. LD 2013 (HP1343) An Act to Authorize the Commissioner of Marine Resources to Adopt Emergency Rules to Protect Certain Marine Mammals in Exceptional Circumstances 38. LD 2024 (HP1354) An Act to Make Changes to Certain Licensing Laws Governing For-hire Charter Boat Operators, Lobster and Crab Fishing and Elver Dealers 39. LD 2025 (HP1355) An Act to Create a Limited-purpose License for Aquaculture Nursery and Husbandry Activities and to Clarify the Aquaculture Lease Amendment Process 40. LD 2031 (HP1361) An Act to Offer Military Veterans a 50 Percent Discount on the License Fee for a Commercial Shellfish License END

Green crab "harvest facilitation" public hearing Monday July 14, 2014

The European Green Crab seems to  have dropped sharply this year in upper Penobscot Bay -  both in the Bagaduce River and in Searsport Harbor.

But Mainers must still be prepared for when the next spike in green crab numbers happens - Weather related? Have they moved away from the plundered shores  and gone subtidal?  Whatever  the reasons, Maine's policy is to facilitate their capture and death.

On Monday July 14th the Maine Department of Marine Resources will hold a public hearing on the newest regs at DMR HQ. Friends of Penobscot Bay will be there.

Read all about it:
Green Crab Harvest Facilitation; Ch. 8.02 Compliance & Ch. 8.20(A) Harvester Reporting Green Crabs. Proposed Rulemaking (7pg pdf)

PUBLIC HEARING: Monday July 14, 2014. 1 p.m. Natural Resources Service Center.  Room 106. 6 Beech Street, Hallowell, Maine 


DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS: July 25, 2014

OFFICIAL SUMMARY
"This proposed regulation would improve the ability of individuals to collect and remove from coastal Maine waters the invasive and damaging green crab species. The considerable adverse effect of green crab predation on Maine’s valuable shellfish population has increased the importance of streamlining and improving DMR regulations regarding the harvest of green crabs." 

"The proposed regulations include: eliminating the restriction on the taking of green crabs as bycatch by licensed commercial lobster harvesters; no longer requiring a lobster/crab license holder to obtain a green crab-only license in order to sell green crabs; eliminating the harvester reporting requirement for green crabs; and clarifying requirements prohibiting harvesting green crabs at night and the usage of unapproved bait."

Details:

http://www.maine.gov/dmr/25.40greencrabproposedweb.pdf

Green Crabs Summit - have the crabs won?

Listen to two speakers then a discussion on the monumental invasion and occupation of Maine state coastal waters by Carcinus Maenas, the Green Crab, and find out who won "this round".

Dr Cynthia McKenzie of the Canadian Dept of Fisheries and Oceans, Newfoundland,  and Chad Coffin, head of Maine Clammers Association, spoke in the afternoon session of the December 16, 2013 Maine Green Crab Summit at the University of Maine in Orono. The event was also streamed live on the internet.

* Cynthia McKenzie 30 min 
* Chad Coffin, 36 minutes
* Panel Discussion 17 minutes
* Pat Keliher  13 minutes


Recordings also include a discussion - occasionally very heated - among the panel and the audience,  including those on the internet, followed by closing remarks by Maine DMR Commissioner Pat Keliher.  The most important consensus of the summit was to kill as many green crabs as possible. Efforts are also underway by the Maine Clammers Association to establish gated-off crab-free coves.

 Coffin of the Clammers' Association heaped scorn on "coastal cleanups" as wastes of money and volunteer energy for cosmetic improvements, and suggested  the money and effort be better spent on  habitat and or species restoration.

Coffin also urged that towns with under 20 licensed commercial clammers lose their municipal shellfish commission, saving DMR money to concentrate on those places with viable shellfisheries and saving those towns the expense of an armed shellfish warden. "There's no clams for them to protect? Doffin said.

Little more than a century after introduction into the Gulf of Maine, the swarming green crab has succeeded in wiping out softshelled clams and mussels.

It is outcompeting lobsters for shallow water lobster trap bait and other foods. Is gnawing eelgrass flat and is boring holes in saltmarsh sediments.

Have the green crabs won?

Help requested for Maine green crab survey

Clammers in Casco Bay have reported seeing very few sublegal clams this spring and summer. They are also witnessing what appears to be an explosion in populations of green crabs.  

Maine Clammers Association is trying to extend the observations made in the Freeport area to other areas along the Maine coast to see if a similar reduction in clams and increase in green crab infestations are happening elsewhere.  

If you have seen pockmarking on flats, if you have seen green crabs in channels or on mudflats, if you have seen green crabs causing erosion in shoreland areas, please contact:

Chad Coffin – Maine Clammer’s Association: friendsoftheclammers@comcast.net    or Brian Beal – University of Maine at Machias/Downeast Institute: bbeal@maine.edu

Listen to Chad Coffin testify before the Maine Legislature's Marine Resources Committee earlier this year, on the devastation wrought by green crabs. And to the questions the legislators responded with.