Tribes propose joint management of elver fishery
In an effort to avoid a repeat of last spring’s turf war with state fisheries regulators over the harvesting of translucent baby eels, Passamaquoddy tribal chiefs at Indian Township and Sipayik in Washington County are proposing joint management with the state of the lucrative elver fishery.
Last spring, elver fishermen were getting prices of between $1,700 and $2,000 per pound and the fishery’s estimated $38 million value in 2012 made it the second most-lucrative fishery after lobsters.
As reported by The Quoddy Tides, Passamaquoddy Chiefs Clayton Cleaves of Sipayik and Joseph Socobasin of Indian Township presented a letter outlining the tribe’s proposal to Gov. Paul LePage at a Jan. 6 meeting in Augusta.
In the excerpt reported by the newspaper, the Passamaquoddy Joint Tribal Council stated: “The tribe and the state share responsibility for protecting and managing the American eel and must work cooperatively to manage the resource in a way that avoids conflict and promotes responsible stewardship. We must settle upon a regulatory system that not only prevents depletion of the American eel but empowers Maine’s citizens and Passamaquoddy tribal members to earn a livelihood where economic opportunities do not exist.”
The Passamaquoddy proposal is the latest chapter in its dispute with the state over what tribal officials say is their sovereign right as a federally recognized tribe to create their own fishery management policies that are independent of the state’s laws and policies. Last spring, the tribe issued 575 permits to harvest elvers but the DMR countered by saying it would prosecute any tribal license-holders whose number was higher than the 200-license limit set by the Legislature for the tribe.
District attorneys in Hancock and Washington counties last week dismissed charges against 24 members of the Passamaquoddy tribe who had been charged by the Maine Marine Patrol with unlicensed elver fishing. DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher countered by saying he would ask Attorney General Janet Mills' office to pursue the charges instead of county prosecutors.
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