By his calculations he'll be nearly 80 years old or dead by the time his wait is over. Fishermen opposed the recommendations. It would also encourage zones to determine their exit-to-entry ratio differently. There are few things in Maine as coveted as a lobster fishing license, and a proposal to bring dozens of people off the state's license waiting list has fishermen in the state ready for a fight. Lobster 2.3: Season & Licensing - Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance He declined to take a personal stance on the issue until after the meeting. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. In July 2008, after completing the program, Masterson was added to a list of area fishermen waiting for a state lobster license. [CDATA[ Maine Lobster Limited Entry and Apprentice Program The state is expected to release data about 2018 later this winter. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"c1zG27wHNai5dMWqstawCfdcKbFoTNjrhMZ6GfCWxc8-1800-0"}; Inmidcoastszone D, which ranges from Pemaquid east to Cape Rosier, 42 apprentices wait for a license, with the longest wait belonging to David Harmon of Charleston, who was listed in May 2007. Rep. Jay McCreight, D-Harpswell, has proposed a bill that would give licenses to anyone who has been on the list for a decade or more. There are few things in Maine as coveted as a lobster fishing license, and a proposal to bring dozens of people off the state's license waiting list has fishermen in the state ready for a fight. Gray grew up lobstering with his father and had a license as a young man before deciding to try his hand at truck driving. There were nearly 6,000 licensed Maine lobstermen last year, but only 4,300 did any fishing. Charles Gray of Scarborough disputes the notion that the system works. In most of the state, the system is set up so that one license is issued for every 4,000 lobster traps that are put into retirement. He is now the chief engineer of a 130-foot tug that pushes oil-laden barges off the coast of New Orleans. Lobsterman Steve Taylor of Kittery, the chairman of Maines southernmost lobster zone council, said his area could probably absorb the 18 apprentices who would be eligible for a license in 2019 under McCreights plan if they were evenly distributed throughout the zone, which runs from Kittery up to Cape Elizabeth. (Gregory Rec / Portland Press Herald). Were just waiting to see what happens, he said. Ones name will be removed from the list if they do not respond by Sept. 2. The Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources says keeping . The bill also raises the age for young lobstermen to automatically get a license when they finish an apprenticeship. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. Fishermen have caught more than 100 million pounds of the crustaceans for the last seven years after never previously reaching that mark in the states history. Another, proposed by McDonald, would exempt children age 12 and under from being counted as crew members on a captains license. The list was initially set up to try to give everyone fair access, but its not worked out like that. She still dreams of getting that license, and the freedom that comes with being her own boss. They can only apply for a license after a captain endorses them, and the waiting list for licenses is lengthy. Some state lawmakers want to help people like Masterson who have been languishing on the apprentice waitlist for years. By his calculations he'll be nearly 80 years old or dead by the time his wait is over. Would-be lobstermen must wait years for Maine license Beede, 50, says the states 15-year-old licensing system needs an overhaul to give newcomers like him a fair shot at getting a license to fish their own traps in Maines lobsterrich waters. Kvorjakstarted fishing when he was in middle school after his mother married a lobsterman. Not everybody can be a taxi driver in New York City, either. At this rate, my 9-year-old daughter, Eden, will be able to fish and sell her lobsters before I will.. Only seven new licenses were issued this year in the states six closed zones, said Deirdre Gilbert, director of marine policy at the Department of Marine Resources. Although a lobsterman may be allowed to fish 800 traps at a time, they don't necessarily have to set the maximum number of traps. Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher is also declining to comment on the proposal until Tuesdays hearing, a spokesman said. Current license holders generally feel that there are already enough lobstermen and traps and that adding to those numbers will put too much pressure on the lobster population. (Copyright (c) 2022 The Associated Press. She still works for Horner, even though he and her mom are no longer together. Maine's lobster waiting list debate continues - National Fisherman Fourteen people in the zone would benefit from McCreights 10-year license bill, including VernonKvorjakof South Thomaston, who missed his student deadline by mere months as a teen. Tags are ordered the next day after your license is processed. But she acknowledged that there is opposition to the idea, and shes expecting a lively hearing. The states$434 million fisheryis divided into seven geographic zones governed by zone councils made up of state-licensed lobstermen. If your license does not show the correct designation, please contact us immediately so that we can make sure we order your tags correctly. But she acknowledged that there is opposition to the idea, and shes expecting a lively hearing. The state is expected to release data about 2018 later this winter. Being home 24/7 is worth a lot, he said. To limit the number of lobsters being caught, the first thing the state does is regulate the number of fishermen in the state. Ones name will be removed from the list if they do not respond by Sept. 2.Forms are being sent in the mail.The Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources approved changes to the licensing program in February. Sign up and get our top stories delivered daily to your inbox at 6 a.m. Dreaming of a lobster license, but trapped on a waitlist. Horner taught her how to lobster, fish for shrimp and scallops, and drag for haddock, monkfish and cod. Visit /dmr/fisheries/commercial/licenses and download and print license applications. Lobstering Zones in Maine. He doesnt want to risk overfishing a stock that Maine lobstermen have worked hard to protect. ), WHDH TV 7NEWS WLVI TV CW56 //A potential change to lobster licenses in Maine (DOCK TALK PODCAST) - MCFA Notwithstanding subsection 7-A, each licensing year, the commissioner shall authorize new zone entrants for each limited-entry zone that have been on the waiting list pursuant to subsection 6 for 10 or more years and have met the eligibility requirements under section 6421, subsection 5. The state is expected to release data about 2018 later this winter. The Maine Department of Marine Department is asking anyone on a lobster license waiting list to contact them. The only changes the state has made to the system in recent years have been to give students more time to finish their apprenticeship requirements, which would keep young apprentices off the waitlist, and yank licensed lobstermen seeking to transfer from one zone to another off the apprentice lists. She recalls stories of 19-year waits, veterans who lost their lobstering licenses while serving overseas in the military and must now wait years to get anotherone, andwait-listers who became fathers whose sons will get their lobster licenses before their dads. Its hard to let any student in immediately, then have people waiting on a list for 15 years,Kvorjaksaid. Based on state records, 55 of the 248 people currently sitting on one of the seven regional waitlists would fall into that category. And my father should be able to retire.. That would instantly add more than 50 new fishermen to the industry during an era of high catches and strong prices, but also concern about warming oceans and new fishing restrictions designed to protect whales. PORTLAND, Maine (AP) There are few things in Maine as coveted as a lobster fishing license, and a proposal to bring dozens of people off the states license waiting list has fishermen in the state ready for a debate. He is currently No. The response has been some very much in favor and some very much opposed.. [CDATA[ 8. If the system is changed, some fear it could result in a lower trap limit now at 800 traps per lobsterman for most of the state that could hurt their profits even more. This includes any supplemental licenses. Sign up and get our top stories delivered daily to your inbox at 6 a.m. She got her real estatelicense, andrents out a handful of vacation properties she has bought up over the years. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. The Maine Lobstermens Association has yet to take a formal position on the proposal, and is meeting on the issue on Monday evening, said the groups president, Kristan Porter a Cutler lobsterman. Please follow these steps to ensure you are obtaining the correct tag type (FEDERAL or NON-FEDERAL). Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher is also declining to comment on the proposal until Tuesdays hearing, a spokesman said. Jay McCreight, D-Harpswell, has proposed a bill that would give licenses to anyone who has been on the list for a decade or more. DMR License Renewal and Application FAQ It is that time of year again to renew licenses that expire at the end of the calendar year (December 31, 2020) or to apply for a 2021 license. Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News, How to register your school/organization for closings and delays, Harden scores 45, hits late 3 as 76ers down Celtics 119-115, Middleton police warning dog owners about tainted meat, Norwell man arraigned on motor vehicle homicide, manslaughter charges related to deadly 2022 Marshfield crash. The 30-year-old is earning six figuresnow, butis willing to give that up to return to Maine, his family and a start in the fishery when his number comes up. Effective September 12, 2009, a law was enacted to protect the long-term viability of island lobster fishing communities. Licenses | Department of Marine Resources Ten years later, after almost a quarter century in the business, the 38-year-old Masterson is still waiting. The state Department of Marine Resources agrees that the waiting list for lobster licenses in most fishing zones along the coast is too long and, if possible, something should be done to reduce the time it takes to get a license. Some state waters have too many fishermen fighting over the same area of lobster-rich bottom, he said. At 24, Masterson entered the lobster apprenticeship program. At least 50% of a lobstermen's traps must be set . That would allow them to participate aboard the boat, which some in the fishery say has long been standard practice anyway. If, however, you need us to print you a license, please contact us and we would be happy to do so. THE TIMES RECORD would welcome the opportunity to conduct a questionand answer article with a Mid-coast lobsterman. The study is being billed as a cost-benefit analysis. So you want to be a lobsterman - Portland Press Herald (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Maine Lobster Licensing Under Review | Manufacturing.net That exemption rubs apprentices like Masterson the wrong way. If something happens to his father, Gray will be left unable to fish without his own license. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Many have deep ties to the region and the fishery, Masterson said. More than 200 people are waiting in the wings for a lobstering license, which has long been a ticket to the middle class for working coastal Mainers. In 2018, four wait-listers inKvorjakszone got licenses. The proposal is up for a hearing on Tuesday before the Committee on Marine Resources. Approved and Prohibited Freshwater Species, Lobster Fishing License and Trap Tag Counts, Maine Lobster Research, Education, and Development Board, Maine Lobster Limited Entry and Apprentice Program, Eligibility Criteria for Maine Students Who Want to Start Lobstering, Lobster and Other Trap/Pot Gear Modification Requirements, River Herring (Alewives and Blueback Herring), Maine DMR Online Licensing System Frequently Asked Questions, Maine Diver and Dive Tender License Safety Training Requirements, On-Line Harvester Catch & Landings Reporting, Maine Harvester Landing Reporting Form Examples, Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry (license), Tuna, Shark, and Other Large Species Information, Tips for Catch and Release of Striped Bass, Maine Saltwater Recreational Fishing Opportunities to Participate, Maine Saltwater Sport Fishing Tournaments for 2022, Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Summary, Shellfish Closures and Aquaculture Leases Map, Maine Shellfish Dealer Certification and Inspection, Municipal Shellfish Conservation Warden Information, Phytoplankton Monitoring Form and Guides for Volunteers, Water Quality Monitoring Forms and Protocols, Maine Shellfish Dealer Sanitation and HACCP Guidelines Manual and Forms, Salmon Restoration and Conservation Program (ASRCP), "Experimental" (Limited Purpose) Lease Applications and Forms, Limited-Purpose Aquaculture (LPA) License Applications and Forms, Public Participation in Aquaculture Leasing, Atlantic Halibut Research Tags and Rewards, Maine - New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey, Data Dashboard, Reports, and Publications, Maine Coastal Program's Mapping Initiative, MCMI - Current Projects and Program Highlights, Habitat Restoration and Tools (Maine Stream Habitat Viewer), Job, Internship, and Volunteer Opportunities, Business and Economic Development Resources. Nowadays, he works as a sternman on his fathers boat, with his 79-yearold father who has a license merely coming along for the ride to make things legal. David Cousens told lawmakers the current system is not perfect, but this bill does not fix its problems. All tags will be shipped to the address on record in LEEDS. McCreight, the new co-chairwoman of the legislative committee that oversees lobster policy, wants to help what she considers a lost generation of Maine lobstermen thosesterningon boats along the states 3,500-mile coastline who cant gain full entry into the states most lucrative fishery because they didnt have their life plan mapped out in high school. News. By The Associated Press PORTLAND . To all individuals on a lobster license waiting list - Maine Lobstermen The last open lobster zone closed in 2016. The response has been some very much in favor and some very much opposed.. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. To help spread the word and get a sense of the industrys mood, Tuell launched an online Facebook poll to test support for a 10-year cap on lobster license waits. I knew Id have to wait, but I thought it would be a couple years. Fishermen have caught more than 100 million pounds of the crustaceans for the last seven years after never previously reaching that mark in the states history. Currently, Keliher said the ratios are determined by the number of traps a lobsterman holds in the final year of his or her license. For license holders in limited entry fisheries (lobster, urchins, scallops, sea cucumbers, elvers), if you intend to retain your license in 2021, you must renew your 2020 license by December 31, 2020. Gov. Lobstermen testified for and against the bill before the Committee on Marine Resources Wednesday. The people not in the business dont understand. More than 200 people are waiting in the wings for a lobstering license, which has long been a ticket to the middle class for working coastal Mainers. He declined to take a personal stance on the issue until after the meeting. Here in the Maine Department of Marine Resources' (DMR) Lobster Management Zone B, though, a strict limited entry system has resulted in a very long waiting list for new commercial lobster licenses. It also changes the way old licenses are retired.Get the WMTW App9234718, Amazon Has Uncanny Dupes of CB2's Popular Dining Chair for Hundreds Less. This law allows year-round island communities to petition the Commissioner for the establishment of an island limited entry program in order to maintain a number of lobster licenses appropriate for the needs of their island community and the local lobster resource. Lobstering licenses - Portland Press Herald At a hearing on the bill Wednesday, some said it would put. Holly Masterson got her start in the lobster industry when she was 15, when her stepfather, David Horner, hired her to stock and clean up his boat at night. But for everyone else, the wait can be years or even decades. It will be your responsibility to obtain the appropriate tag, as outlined below. May 28, 2012 at 5:43 PM PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Scott Beede is one of 302 people on the waiting list for a Maine lobster license. When he lost hissternman, Masterson filled in. More than 200 people are waiting in the wings for a lobstering license, which has long been a ticket to the middle class for working Mainers. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. The Maine Lobstermens Association has yet to take a formal position on the proposal, and is meeting on the issue on Monday evening, said the groups president, Kristan Porter a Cutler lobsterman. The former social worker says those late bloomers shouldnt be effectively locked out of the fishery. The proposal is among a suite of changes proposed to the lobster licensing system in Maine. "They created a legacy for us to fulfill," says Raegan of her ancestors as she steers the skiff headed to her next trap. Even though its a complicated system, its a pretty good system, he said. Comments are not available on this story. Some Maine lobster license changes approved - National Fisherman In 2016, the Maine Legislature passed LD 1503, a law requiring the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to contact individuals currently on Limited Entry Zone Lobster License Waiting Lists, to determine if they wish to remain on the list, or if they wish to be removed. Holly Masterson takes the stern line from her stepfather and longtime business partner, David Horner, a lobsterman whos also chairman of the local lobster zone council. The number of tags you purchased in 2020 can only increase by 100 in 2021 until you reach your eligibility limit, zone limit or boat limit. He declined to take a personal stance on the issue until after the meeting. Gov. Learn more. It implies that wait-listed apprentices are out-of-town opportunists who decided to lobster onsome kind of whimafter moving up from Massachusetts or reading about the fisherys recent boom, or screw-ups that missed the student deadline or returned to lobster after failing at some other life pursuit. PORTLAND, Maine (AP) There are few things in Maine as coveted as a lobster fishing license, and a proposal to bring dozens of people off the state's license waiting list has fishermen in the . The new study hopes to make sense of it all, addressing the strengths and shortcomings of the existing system and developing recommendations to improve it. For license holders in limited entry fisheries (lobster, urchins, scallops, sea cucumbers, elvers), if you intend to retain your license in 2021, you must renew your 2020 license by December 31, 2020. It also changes the way old licenses are retired. Approved and Prohibited Freshwater Species, Lobster Fishing License and Trap Tag Counts, Maine Lobster Research, Education, and Development Board, Maine Lobster Limited Entry and Apprentice Program, Eligibility Criteria for Maine Students Who Want to Start Lobstering, Lobster and Other Trap/Pot Gear Modification Requirements, River Herring (Alewives and Blueback Herring), Maine DMR Online Licensing System Frequently Asked Questions, Maine Diver and Dive Tender License Safety Training Requirements, On-Line Harvester Catch & Landings Reporting, Maine Harvester Landing Reporting Form Examples, Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry (license), Tuna, Shark, and Other Large Species Information, Tips for Catch and Release of Striped Bass, Maine Saltwater Recreational Fishing Opportunities to Participate, Maine Saltwater Sport Fishing Tournaments for 2022, Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Summary, Shellfish Closures and Aquaculture Leases Map, Maine Shellfish Dealer Certification and Inspection, Municipal Shellfish Conservation Warden Information, Phytoplankton Monitoring Form and Guides for Volunteers, Water Quality Monitoring Forms and Protocols, Maine Shellfish Dealer Sanitation and HACCP Guidelines Manual and Forms, Salmon Restoration and Conservation Program (ASRCP), "Experimental" (Limited Purpose) Lease Applications and Forms, Limited-Purpose Aquaculture (LPA) License Applications and Forms, Public Participation in Aquaculture Leasing, Atlantic Halibut Research Tags and Rewards, Maine - New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey, Data Dashboard, Reports, and Publications, Maine Coastal Program's Mapping Initiative, MCMI - Current Projects and Program Highlights, Habitat Restoration and Tools (Maine Stream Habitat Viewer), Job, Internship, and Volunteer Opportunities, https://maine-dmr-leeds-prod.pegacloud.com/, Business and Economic Development Resources. Based on state records, 55 of the 248 people currently sitting. Every lobster trap across Maine need to have a biodegradable panel of escape and escape vents. If you are obtaining your license online through LEEDS, you MUST print off your license, as we do not print online licenses. State lawmakers have proposed granting people licenses if they've been on the list for 10 years or more. Im 49 years old and should be able to haul my own traps. For assistance, call the DMR Licensing Division at 207-624-6550, Option 2. Others say they shouldnt be penalized simply for developing an interest in lobster fishing later in life. The 2017 total of slightly less than 111 million pounds was the lowest since 2011, but it was still more than twice the 2003 haul. But a proposal before a state legislative. He testified with his 3-year-old son, Levi, by his side. See Offers. Another, proposed by McDonald, would exempt children age 12 and under from being counted as crew members on a captains license. Thats never a real nice feeling.. That would instantly add more than 50 new fishermen to the industry during an era of high catches and strong prices, but also concern about warming oceans and new fishing restrictions designed to protect whales. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. By his calculations he'll be nearly 80 years old or. He went on the waitlist in September 2008, with 46 people in front of him. Children who finish their apprenticeships before they turn 18 can get a license when theyre 17, a provision aimed at preserving the tradition in lobster-fishing families. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. As chairman of the local lobster zone council, Horner has voted to ease local entry requirements facing wait-listers, butdoes not want to speed it up too much. Not a lot of people can sit around for that long waiting to lobster. 7 Bulfinch Place Maine aims to reduce lobster license wait | National Fisherman //Section 188-25-96 - Lobster Apprentice Program, 13-188-25 Me - Casetext As part of a law passed earlier this year, the department must check with anyone on the list and get an updated address. But a proposal before a state legislative committee would bring new people into the fishery who have been waiting for 10 or more years. Most zones allow lobstermen to fish up to 800 traps at a time, while some allow only 600 traps at a time. He had once held a lobsterlicense, butgave it up when he went to school. Lobsterman Jim Buxton climbs up from a dock where after checking on the bilge pump on his lobster fishing boat during frigid temperatures, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, in Portland, Maine. ADVERTISEMENT For more information on the Island Limited Entry Program and participating islands please see. But a proposal before a state legislative committee would bring new people into the fishery who have been waiting for 10 or more years. News Tips: (800) 280-TIPS It is that time of year again to renew licenses that expire at the end of the calendar year (December 31, 2020) or to apply for a 2021 license. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. Comments are not available on this story. Five students got in with no wait the year before. Until we know the outcome of these discussions it is very difficult to pass legislation that would increase lobster fishing effort, McDonald said. The 2017 total of slightly less than 111 million pounds was the lowest since 2011, but it was still more than twice the 2003 haul. More than 200 people are waiting in the wings for a lobstering license, which has long been a ticket to the middle class for working coastal Mainers. The idea was if somebodys been on the list that long, it would be nice to offer them an alternative, McCreight said. Im so discouraged now it just hurts, Gray said. Not everybody can do what they want to do.. He wants zones to consider his or her historical fishing effort instead, to get a more accurate number for the allowable new traps. New zone entrants on the waiting list for 10 or more years. These licenses are not easy to come by. The proposal is among a suite of changes proposed to the lobster licensing system in Maine. Hes cautious about speeding up the licensing process because he says the fishery is already too crowded. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WHDH-TV. Several students also testified, pleading with lawmakers to ease the rules for the apprenticeship program. If your vessel does not have a current or active federal permit - you will be issued non federal tags. If you are obtaining your license online through LEEDS, you MUST print off your license, as we do not print online licenses. Beede, 50, says . Were all working on one piece of pie.
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