Urchin Rulemaking–May 30 & 31

Chapter 26 – Sea Urchin Regulations and
2017-2018 Harvesting Season

This regulation would establish open harvest days for the taking of sea urchins by divers, rakers, trappers, and draggers in Zones 1 and 2 for the 2017-2018 season. It also establishes the utilization of harvester swipe cards for picking days to fish. This is a pilot project which aims to evaluate the swipe card system which could potentially provide industry the flexibility to fish in a safer manner and to increase roe quality.

For Zone 1, 20-day seasons are proposed for divers, trappers, rakers and draggers in 2017-2018, from which harvesters may only fish up to 15 days of their choosing, the same number of days allowed during the 2016-2017 season. For Zone 2, 45-day seasons are proposed for divers, trappers, rakers and draggers in 2017-2018, from which harvesters may only fish up to 38 days of their choosing, the same number of days allowed during the 2016-2017season.

For the Whiting & Dennys Bays Limited Access Area in Zone 2, a 15-day season is proposed for Zone 2 divers, trappers, rakers and draggers in 2017-2018, which is six additional days compared to the 2016-17 season. This regulation also establishes a limited access area in Blue Hill Bay for a Department-initiated, five year research project in collaboration with industry using Department issued spatial trackers.

Date, time and location of PUBLIC HEARINGS: May 30, 2017 at 6:00 pm, DMR Conference Room, Marquardt Building, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta and May 31, 2017 at 6:00 pm, Ellsworth City Hall (Council Chambers), One City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth.

COMMENT DEADLINE: June 12, 2017.