Fishery regulators in Maine have scheduled a series of public hearings to discuss a proposed plan to cut back on the number of fishing days that will be allotted to the scallop fishery in the coming season.
Those who fish the waters of Maine’s southern scalloping zone would see the number of days they’re allowed to accumulate catch narrowed from 70 days to 60 days under the new proposal. Other zones in the state would retain their accustomed timeframes – Maine’s midcoast and eastern zones would stick with last year’s allotment of 70 days, while the far eastern zone, including Cobscook Bay, would maintain its traditional 50 days.
A hearing will be held Tuesday in Augusta regarding the proposal. Two other hearings – one Wednesday in Ellsworth and another on Thursday in Machias – are also on the docket.
Per the proposal, scalloping season would begin in early December and close by mid-April. Last year, Maine scallops posted a value of USD 7.5 million, the highest since 1993, reported the Portland Press Herald.
A hearing on a proposed regulation for sea urchin harvesting, which would close off urchin harvesting in the Cat Ledges area until 1 May 2018, was also conducted on Tuesday, according to the Press Herald. Such a transplant would aid in the re-establishment of a colony of “commercially viable urchins” in the area near Southport, noted state officials. Public comment on the matter is being accepted up until 27 September.
