Fishermen pan state's proposal for new scallop lotteries
The Maine Department of Marine Resources has introduced a proposal for annual lotteries for new scallop-harvesting licenses.
The Ellsworth American reported that one set of rules would cover dragger licenses; a separate set would apply to diver licenses. Both lotteries would have the same eligibility criteria except that there would be different exit ratios for the two categories.
The rules come in response to a 2009 order from the Legislature, which passed a moratorium on new scallop licenses and also ordered the DMR to come up with a lottery system to allow new entrants into a fishery.
Maine’s 2016 sea scallop harvest of 243.9 metric tons carried a value of $6.87 million, based on a per-pound price of $12.77, according to DMR’s annual report on landings.
At a recent DMR hearing on the topic, however, fishermen expressed little support.
“We don’t even have a full season, why are we talking about letting new people in?” asked Gary Hatch, a Rockland-based scallop dragger.
The lottery structure, and the strict exit ratios, were an issue for Southwest Harbor fisherman David Horner.
“Getting young people in [the fishery] is sacred,” Horner said. “The idea that you’re going to issue just a couple of licenses is ridiculous.”
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