Not a lot of people can sit around for that long waiting to lobster. By his calculations he'll be nearly 80 years old or dead by the time his wait is over. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. The bills presenter, Democratic Rep. Joyce McCreight of Harpswell, said the proposal is designed to help fishermen who have been the victim of a waiting list system that doesnt often budge. 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 . Lobsterman Jim Buxton climbs up from a dock where after checking on the bilge pump on his lobster fishing boat during frigid temperatures Thursday in Portland. Make sure your tags are ordered correctly. To be issued federal halibit tag, you must have a current and active federal northeast multi-species permit on the vessel listed on your tag application. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. When they finish, they put their names on a waiting list for a license. 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. 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. All tags will be shipped to the address on record in LEEDS. 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. Classmates in Rockland who had known enough to get student lobster licenses fished straight out of high school, butKvorjakcouldnt, so he enrolled at Maine Maritime Academy. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. The proposal is among a suite of changes proposed to the lobster licensing system in Maine. A person who is on a waiting list for a class I, II or III lobster and crab fishing license for a limited-entry zone shall be removed from that list following a suspension for a violation of a marine resources law and shall be reinstated at the bottom of the waiting list following notification to the Department of eligibility for a license upon 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. I knew Id have to wait, but I thought it would be a couple years. 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. News. 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. The committee has not yet scheduled a public hearing on McCreights bill, L.D. But it could have far-reaching effects.. Beede, 50, says the state's 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 Maine's lobster-rich waters. With approval from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, councils set limits on the number of traps, establish fishing times and days, and, since 1999, set entry rates to control the size of the state lobster fleet, which numbers about 4,500 people. Little did I know.. 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. Keliher hopes it allows more people to get off of the waiting list, and into the water. Were all working on one piece of pie. All waited at least a decade. The Southwest Harbor resident hadnt planned to become a fisherman, justhelp outher family, but she got hooked. 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. Horner, Mastersons longtime business partner and former stepfather, advocates for a measured approach. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 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. On Super Bowl Monday, 17 million workers are expected to call in sick, Maine orders edibles containing CBD removed from stores, Invasive fish that took over lakes now threatens the rest of Maine, Auburn police seize more than 30 pounds of fentanyl, This Maine ski town may crack down on short-term rentals, Maine sees regional high school as model despite failed attempts, Aroostook Countys Hogan Tire sold to national chain, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Gov. Not everybody can be a taxi driver in New York City, either. 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. Were just waiting to see what happens, he said. Tags are ordered the next day after your license is processed. 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. Its frustrating for all the people on the lists, Beede said. Below are several things that you should be aware of prior to renewing/applying for your licenses or applying for tags. The Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources says keeping . Contact your local. By his calculations he'll be nearly 80 years old or dead by the time his wait is over. Maine fishermen are by far the biggest producers of lobster in the U.S., and the state in the midst of a multi-year boom in lobster catch. But a proposal before a state legislative committee would bring new people into the fishery who have been waiting for 10 or more years. You cant legislate to let everyone do what they want to do, he said. If you are applying to obtain a northeast multi-species permit, and you will have that permit during the 2021 season, you will need to provide DMR Licensing staff with the documentation showing you have applied to obtain that permit, and YOU MUST contact DMR before your tags are issued. It concluded that setting entry barriers had more to do with controlling who gets the privilege to fish, not protecting the stock, as the number of traps had increased even as the number oflicenseholdersdecreased. 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. 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. Make sure all of your landings reports are up to date, and that you do not owe reports. ), WHDH TV 7NEWS WLVI TV CW56 Maine Lobster Fishing License and Trap Tag Counts The MS-Excel file below requires MS Excel or the free MS Excel Viewer (download here) to view or print. The state is expected to release data about 2018 later this winter. 28. 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. There is a waiting list to get a lobster fishing license. He declined to take a personal stance on the issue until after the meeting. Scott Beede is one of 302 people on the waiting list for a Maine lobster license. Lobster tags take 4 to 6 weeks - please plan accordingly. See Offers. 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. McCreight knows her bill will not sit well with some already licensed fishermen. For more information on the Island Limited Entry Program and participating islands please see the Department of Marine Resources Regulations and scroll down to Chapter 25. Incase the number of eggs you have removed is not easily deciphered; the fine ranges between $1,000 and $5,000 (Maine Legislature). Most zones allow lobstermen to fish up to 800 traps at a time, while some allow only 600 traps at a time. There are now four licensees from Zone A and eight licensees from Zone C on a transfer list to get into Zone B, said DMR lobster council liaison Sarah Cotnoir. But a proposal before a state legislative committee would bring new people into the fishery who have been waiting for 10 or more years. 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. WHDH broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. 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. LOBSTER BOATS SIT at their moorings at dawn at Pretty Marsh Harbor in Mount Desert. Im so discouraged now it just hurts. 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. 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. Mainers on lobster license waiting lists must return form to state, The Maine Department of Marine Department is asking anyone on a lobster license waiting list to contact them.The department said there are six different waiting lists.As part of a law passed earlier this year, the department must check with anyone on the list and get an updated address. The bills presenter, Democratic Rep. Joyce McCreight of Harpswell, said the proposal is designed to help fishermen who have been the victim of a waiting list system that doesnt often budge. 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. By his calculations he'll be nearly 80 years old or dead by the time his wait is over. She is heading into her . Based on local rules, which say that five lobstermen must leave the fishery before a new one can join, 150 local fishermen will have to retire or die before he can join. Shouldnt I be the one to teach him how to fish? Morrissette asked. Another member of the marine resources committee, Democratic Rep. Genevieve McDonald, said concern over possible changes in lobster fishing rules make it difficult to let new fishermen onto the water. Sunbeam Television Corp This list is established with a one-for-one swap, meaning a fisherman in any given zone would need to transfer his or her license before someone on the transfer waiting list can swap zones. ADVERTISEMENT 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. Sign in or Subscribe 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. Please use our online licensing system, LEEDS at https://maine-dmr-leeds-prod.pegacloud.com/, for the fastest processing of your license and/or tag application. At the time, neither realized he would need to log his workdays and hours before turning 18 to get a student license. Kelly Clarkson's Home Collection Is Up to 74% Off During Way Day Deals, The Best Wayfair Way Day Deals 2023 Starting at $30. Online Licensing System (LEEDS) The Maine Department of Marine Resources' online licensing and landings system, called LEEDS (Licensing Enforcement and Environmental Data System) is now available. Hes cautious about speeding up the licensing process because he says the fishery is already too crowded. When he lost hissternman, Masterson filled in. The bill also raises the age for young lobstermen to automatically get a license when they finish an apprenticeship. 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. At a hearing on the bill Wednesday, some said it would put. //]]> The response has been some very much in favor and some very much opposed.. If you owe reports your license will not be available to renew. Learn more. Several students also testified, pleading with lawmakers to ease the rules for the apprenticeship program. Comments are not available on this story. An act to Improve the Limited-Entry System would streamline the process for getting a lobster license in Maine, making it easier for students to complete the apprenticeship program and increasing the fees for lobstermen over the age of 70. 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. 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. Beede has worked as a sternman for eight years on his 70- year-old stepfathers lobster boat in the town of Mount Desert. Effective September 12, 2009, a law was enacted to protect the long-term viability of island lobster fishing communities. 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. //]]> Thats never a real nice feeling.. The Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources says keeping an estimated 300 people on the waiting list is bad for the industry, and wants to make the process move faster. The idea was if somebodys been on the list that long, it would be nice to offer them an alternative, McCreight said. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. And my father should be able to retire.. Please contact the landings program at 624-6550,Option 1, with regard to any landings reporting issues or concerns. Horner taught her how to lobster, fish for shrimp and scallops, and drag for haddock, monkfish and cod. He joined the Zone D waitlist in 2014. 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. If you need help with PDF files, visit http://www.maine.gov/portal/help/adobe_support.html. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. McDonald, a lobsterwoman from Stonington, said a particular problem is that the industry is faced with potential management changes to reduce interactions with the endangered North Atlantic right whale. He is currently No. State Trooper's Cruiser. Another member of the marine resources committee, Democratic Rep. Genevieve McDonald, said concern over possible changes in lobster fishing rules make it difficult to let new fishermen onto the water. . He testified with his 3-year-old son, Levi, by his side. I was too young to realize what I wanted to do, Morrissette said. He wants zones to consider his or her historical fishing effort instead, to get a more accurate number for the allowable new traps. 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. 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. Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries. Hed like to buy his stepfathers boat and traps so his stepfather can retire, but first he has to get his own license something he says is nearly impossible under existing rules. 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. But for everyone else, the wait can be years or even decades. As part of a law passed earlier this year, the department must check with anyone on the list and get an updated address. The proposal is up for a hearing on Tuesday before the Committee on Marine Resources. The idea was if somebodys been on the list that long, it would be nice to offer them an alternative, McCreight said. 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. The Maine Department of Marine Department is asking anyone on a lobster license waiting list to contact them. In 2012, Maine hired the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to study the lobster license system to weigh whether the conservation benefits of restricting entry to the fishery outweighed the employment barriers. 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. 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. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. 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. If you are obtaining your license online through LEEDS, you MUST print off your license, as we do not print online licenses. If you are renewing your lobster license with the same vessel as last year, and there has been a change on that vessel, your tags will be ordered exactly as they were the year before. There were 3 million trap tags, but only 2.6 million traps were in use, according to the Department of. 8. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The stories of wait-listers who have testified before the Marine Resources Committee have moved McCreight. He declined to take a personal stance on the issue until after the meeting. Until we know the outcome of these discussions it is very difficult to pass legislation that would increase lobster fishing effort, McDonald said. (Gregory Rec / Portland Press Herald). Applicants wait years, and at times even decades.