[twofinbluna]

Article from Bangor Daily News

"Preliminary figures released Tuesday by state officials indicate that the amount of lobster caught in Maine in 2007 fell by nearly 23 percent from the previous year."

This post edited by twofinbluna 12:57 AM 02/21/2008

 

[Codkiller]

Is that because they were landed in Mass instead of Maine?

 

[twofinbluna]

Codkiller wrote:
Is that because they were landed in Mass instead of Maine?

Don't think it has anything to do with that issue (the rule that stops draggers from landing lobsters here is not a new rule). I think its just that the lobster fishing was off and guys did not get as much as normal. Not a good sign.

 

[midcoastfishing]

They were down from the previos year, however 2006 was the best year in history as far as landings went. Its consistanty gone up over time, its not uncommon to have a bad year now and then. The fishing was horrible in the spring but the boat price was one of the highest ever(but no one was catching anything). Then in August it pickd up pretty good untill septemebr when it started to drop off again and continued to drop off through the fall (which is usually the best season for lobster) and into the early winter when they moved offshore. I dont think one bad year mans there is a problem with the lobster fishery, lets just hope its back up next year.

 

[twofinbluna]

midcoastfishing wrote:
I dont think one bad year mans there is a problem with the lobster fishery, lets just hope its back up next year.

Amen to that

 

[twofinbluna]

Lobster fishery suffers decline

Article from Portland

"In 2007, the total harvest fell by nearly 23 percent, according to preliminary figures released by the state ? from 73 million pounds in 2006 to 56 million pounds last year. Total revenue declined 16 percent, from $297 million to $249 million.

In both dollars and pounds, it was the largest drop in nearly a half-century, according to a review of statistics kept by the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The 2007 landings were down 40 percent from their peak in 2003."

This post edited by twofinbluna 05:01 PM 02/21/2008

 

[Brenainn]

Is there anyway to check these numbers for effort involved. Are there less guys fishing because of economy, fuel prices, rising boat costs, bad weather. Does this in anyway come back to the mid water issue ? Do you think the sinking line costs are scaring guys out of the industry? I know I caught about 1/2 of what I caught in the year before but also my effort was only about 1/2. Anyone hear anything from the source? What does MLA have to say? Sorry for rambling

 

[twofinbluna]

Brenainn wrote:
Is there anyway to check these numbers for effort involved. Are there less guys fishing because of economy, fuel prices, rising boat costs, bad weather. Does this in anyway come back to the mid water issue ? Do you think the sinking line costs are scaring guys out of the industry? I know I caught about 1/2 of what I caught in the year before but also my effort was only about 1/2. Anyone hear anything from the source? What does MLA have to say? Sorry for rambling

The midwater trawl issue has actually helped lobstermen. Bait has been expsnive for years (thats a given) but every single lobstermen from Maine I have talked to believed that the bait situation was actually better this year with the midwater ban. While the MW boats pounded hard in May (doubling the pre-May quota) the seiners were able to stretch out the 1A fishery. Then the MW boats came back in October and within a week or so the quota was caught.

Lobstermen are smart enough to disregard the spin from the MW lobby and they know that MW boats are bad for the lobster bait market.

The whale/rope issue is a factor, and so is rising fuel costs. But I think that this really came down to the lobstering and the lobstering this year was just not as good as it was the last few years. I have heard countless explanations from fishermen and others but I dont think anyone knows for sure.

I have talked to a bunch of the MLA people and I have heard a couple different things (water temps, recruitment, stuff like that). But again, I dont think anyone can say for sure. I think that they (MLA), like everyone else, just hope this is a one year thing and that next year things are back to normal.

Keep in mind that the catch this year was still a lot of lobsters, just not what it was most of this decade.


This post edited by twofinbluna 07:21 PM 02/21/2008

 

[Brenainn]

Interesting,.. thanks

 

[midcoastfishing]

twofinbluna wrote:

The midwater trawl issue has actually helped lobstermen. Bait has been expsnive for years (thats a given) but every single lobstermen from Maine I have talked to believed that the bait situation was actually better this year with the midwater ban. While the MW boats pounded hard in May (doubling the pre-May quota) the seiners were able to stretch out the 1A fishery. Then the MW boats came back in October and within a week or so the quota was caught.

Lobstermen are smart enough to disregard the spin from the MW lobby and they know that MW boats are bad for the lobster bait market.

The whale/rope issue is a factor, and so is rising fuel costs. But I think that this really came down to the lobstering and the lobstering this year was just not as good as it was the last few years. I have heard countless explanations from fishermen and others but I dont think anyone knows for sure.

I have talked to a bunch of the MLA people and I have heard a couple different things (water temps, recruitment, stuff like that). But again, I dont think anyone can say for sure. I think that they (MLA), like everyone else, just hope this is a one year thing and that next year things are back to normal.

Keep in mind that the catch this year was still a lot of lobsters, just not what it was most of this decade.

Very well said

Brenainn, I think the rope issue is definetly a factor but it doesnt affect everyone on the coast. The boundary line they have set along the coast is similar to the 3 mile line but it does include some areas not included in the 3 mi line. Hopefully the state will get the NMFS to push this Oct 1 date back, becasue theres no way all the fisherman( who need to) can comply with this regulation by Oct 1 2008. Personally, I feel very fortunate because all of Penobscot bay area(the area I fish) is currently exempted from the new float rope rule.
Greg

 

[HABS]

My catch was down about 20% in 2007. Always seem to have a good year followed by a down year out here on eastern LI. Saw lot's of eggers and small ones during the season though which was a good sign.

 

[twofinbluna]

midcoastfishing wrote:
Hopefully the state will get the NMFS to push this Oct 1 date back, becasue theres no way all the fisherman( who need to) can comply with this regulation by Oct 1 2008. Personally, I feel very fortunate because all of Penobscot bay area(the area I fish) is currently exempted from the new float rope rule.
Greg

Thats great that they did not push that rule on you guys in the Bay...there would be no need for that there. Maybe its happened, but in my years of fishing off Maine I have certainly never seen a right whale anywhere near there.

And I agree that I hope they push the rule back because as you said, there is no way people will be ready in time. You have the cost and the time it will take to physically replace the lines, but then you also have the fact that the rope companies cannot necessarily even supply enough line in time. If they try to go with Oct 1, they will end up either having to give a ton of fines or be real lenient.

 

[Flukinicehole]

One hing the experts seem to forget is everything has a life cycle. Some years there are more of that species then in other years. It`s how the life cycle goes up and down usually in around 7yr. cycles.

 

[Brenainn]

Hey Midcoast !

That Maine buggin site is great ! I learned alot, thanks!

 

[Brenainn]

Lobsterboat racing

Check this out!

 

[midcoastfishing]

Brenainn wrote:
That Maine buggin site is great ! I learned alot, thanks!

I'm glad you liked it. Capt Ryan Post(the guy in the videos) sponsors me for my student lobster license, he's a really good guy. He plans to have a full length documentary out in June. I think it will do well, to me its much more informative then other fishing shows I've seen.

BTW, Thats a great vid on lobster boat racing, i hadnt seen that one before. I think lobsterboat racing may be the best sport ever

This post edited by midcoastfishing 05:13 PM 02/23/2008

 

[bigjay]

That u-tube vid rocks.

I've always wanted to head up there for the races.

 

[twofinbluna]

The lobster boat races are awesome. Definitely worth seeing if you have never seen them before (or even if you have!)....tons of horsepower on exhibit at those races...its sweet.