March 9, 2017
Maine scallop fishermen seek to restrict out-of-staters
Photo / Courtesy Downeast Dayboat Scallops
Togue Brawn, of Downeast Dayboat Scallops, onboard the Bossy Lady in this file photo, says larger out-of-state boats are competing unfairly against Maine scallop fisherman, threatening the recovery of scallop stocks in the Gulf of Maine.
Maine scallop fishermen view big scallop boats from out of state as a threat to recovering scallop stocks on federal grounds in the northern Gulf of Maine.
The Bangor Daily News reported the grounds, once depleted, are recovering and now attracting large draggers from Massachusetts.
Larger boats started showing up in 2015, taking thousands of pounds at a time, Togue Brawn, who has a scallop marketing and distribution company, told the BDN. Small Maine boats are limited to 200 pounds per day.
“It is irresponsible management,” Brawn told the BDN. “We should be able to prevent the next [fishing] boom from becoming a bust.”
The New England Fishery Management Council plans to address the situation in the coming year, the BDN reported.
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