Lawmakers looking at ways to protect elver fishery

Maine’s lucrative elver fishery could see some changes in how licenses issued each year under proposed legislation being reviewed by the 128th Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee.

Maine Public reported that a bill that would cap the number of elver-fishing licenses and also limit the number of new fishermen allowed into the fishery received broad support at the committee’s public hearing. 

A bill that would set a firm cap on the number of elver fishing licenses issued each year in Maine received broad support at a public hearing before the Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee. The bill would also allow a small number of new fishermen into the fishery each year.

The bill, which Maine Public reported is supported by the Department of Marine Resources, would establish an annual lottery to ensure that there are just 425 licensed elver fishermen each season. The fishery has been closed to new fishermen since 2013 to ensure sustainable yearly harvest.

Maine’s elver, or baby eel fishery, ended 2016 with its most successful catch in three years, with elver fishermen reporting that year’s catch was just their 9,700-pound quota at a price of almost $1,450 per pound. 

The measure faces further committee consideration before going to the full Legislature.