Fall 2015 ME-NH Inshore Trawl Survey

Maine Department of Marine Resources

F/V Robert Michael

The fall groundfish trawl survey conducted by the State of Maine Dept. of Marine Resources is scheduled to begin September 28 in New Hampshire working east to Lubec.

The weekly schedule breaks is:

Sept. 28 through Oct. 2, we will be working from New Hampshire to Cape Elizabeth;

Oct. 5 through 9, we will be working from Portland to Muscongus Bay;

Oct. 12 through 16, we will be working in Penobscot Bay area (Port Clyde to Isle au Haut);

Oct. 19 through 23, we will be working from Isle au Haut to Schoodic Point (Mt. Desert Is. Area); and

Oct. 26 through 30, we will be working from Schoodic to Lubec (eastern Maine).

Schedules are subject to the weather conditions and can change at the last minute.

The data collected by the survey is used in the assessment of lobster stocks and many other species of fish and shellfish.The better information we have about ALL our fishery resources, the better we can defend our fisheries and livelihoods.In order to complete the required minimum number of tows for each of our 20 strata, we are asking for the cooperation of lobstermen in clearing proposed tow areas of gear.Mailings ofproposed daily tow schedules with start and stop coordinates and area overviews to all lobster license holders have already started.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Tow Schedule and Updates will be available via several methods.

More detailed charts, please call Sally Sherman 633-9503, Keri Stepanek 633-9530.

Or check http://www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/trawl/fl15.htm

Marine Patrol: Division I, Boothbay @ 633-9595 or Division II, Lamoine @ 667-3373