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Lobster Industry Seeks Rope Rule Alternatives
BELFAST — At their mid-November meeting, the Maine Lobstermen’s Association worked out a list of possible conservation equivalency alternatives to the groundrope rule, for the Department of Marine Resources to investigate on the industry’s behalf.
According to documents provided by the MLA, ideas under consideration include shortening up groundlines between traps, trawling up gear, implementing low profile rope, establishing fishing seasons, trap reductions, or anything else that could reduce the amount of rope in the water. The DMR is in the process of analyzing the potential benefits a conservation equivalency plan might have for the protection of large whales. MLA executive director Patrice McCarron stressed that the MLA has not endorsed any of the individual ideas on the list of things that were discussed. But, she said, the organization did endorse the idea of the DMR pulling a plan together to present to the industry as an alternative to the sinking rope plan. The idea of Maine drafting an alternative whale plan, or conservation equivalency plan, stemmed from a previous meeting between the MLA, DMR, and members of the conservation community, including the New England Aquarium and The Oceans Conservancy. The goal of that meeting was to determine whether a compromise could be reached that would allow the industry to meet or exceed the level of protection provided to whales through the Final Rule, but utilize different methods that would allow the industry to fish gear that is operationally feasible. Once the alternative plan is drafted, it will be presented to the industry for discussion. “This plan must be based on sound data and sound science,” the MLA document says. If Maine is to have a chance at moving an alternative plan forward, it must get by early winter. Letter of advice In related business, the MLA has requested legal advice from the Washington, D.C.-based firm Kelley, Drye, Collier and Shannon on whether or not the Maine lobster industry has any basis to sue over the provisions of the Final Whale Rule. The MLA has requested a “letter of advice,” which will contain a legal opinion on whether or not there would be legal basis for a suit. |
