Some Fishermen Zone Out

by Laurie Schreiber

Lobster fishermen who fish 49 percent of their traps in a zone adjacent to their own—but none in their own zone—may be adhering to the letter of the law, but they are violating its spirit.

That was the consensus of attendees at the latest meeting of the Lobster Zone B Council.

The lobster industry’s co-management system, devised in 1995, established seven management zones. In each zone, an elected council of fishermen determines the maximum number of traps each license holder is permitted to fish, the number of traps that may be fished on a single line, the time of day when fishing is allowed, and the maximum number of fishermen in their zone. Each fisherman has a home zone.

The law also contains a provision that allows fishermen to fish up to 49 percent of their traps in another zone. The provision was established in response to fishermen who felt constrained by the boundary lines from fishing in places that they had previously been free to go.

But Sorrento fisherman James West said that a few fishermen from Zones A and C have been fishing their 49 percent in Zone B but not setting any traps in their home zones.
“How can that be right?” West asked.

Zone B comprises Mount Desert Island and its surrounding waters, from Schoodic Point to the east to Newbury Neck to the west. Zone A is adjacent to the east, from Schoodic Point to the Canada border. Zone C lies to the west, from Newbury Neck to Cape Rosier.

Another man said he knew of several fishermen from Zones A and C who were fishing from Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor.

West proposed that a rule should be written that requires fishermen to fish 51 percent of their traps in their declared zones before utilizing the 49 percent provision. Council members said such a rule would be difficult for the Maine Marine Patrol to enforce.