Lobster Bill to Improve Lobster Licensing Voted Downstream

A bill, LD896 “An Act To Improve Lobster Licensing,” that would have enabled some people who have completed the lobster license apprentice program to get a license was voted down on April 8 in Augusta. The bill was submitted by Rep. Robert Alley of Jonesport. Alley said the bill was intended to help those 300 individuals who have been waiting in some cases for up to 15 years after completing the lobster license apprenticeship program.

After the bill was voted down, Alley made a motion in which he said he would change the language of the bill if DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher would develop a plan to move some of those who have completed the apprenticeship program off the waiting list.

Alley said participants are required to spend 200 days on the water and work 1,000 hours in order to complete the program. There is also a sternman program. “Some completed the program, enlisted in the military and came home to find they were disqualified for not completing the program,” said Alley.

Alley has suggested that the requirements in zones should change. Zones to the west require 5 lobstermen to leave the fishery before 1 can enter. Eastern zones require 3 lobstermen to leave before 1 can enter. Alley thinks the license should be issued where the licensing program was completed. He has also recommended that 5 on the waiting list from each zone be given a lobster license annually. For the 7 zones, that would take 35 off the waiting list each year.