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Quahoggers To Assist DMR In Off-Shore Red Tide Testing
Red tide (Alexandrium tamarenses) is an algal bloom occuring in the Eastern Maine Coastal Current, an underwater river that rises off Nova Scotia and travels south off Maine’s coast. Each spring, light and heat produce reddish blooms the length of the current. Filter feeders such as clams, quahogs, oysters and mussels ingest the plankton. While it is not harmful to shellfish, humans who eat them when they contain high concentrations of Alexandrium can be afflicted with (potentially lethal) paralytic shellfish poisoning. When red tide passes, affected shellfish purge their systems and are safe to eat. Lobsters, crabs and shrimp are not affected. The July 20 meeting was called by the Maine Quahog Association (MQA). Attending from the DMR were Commissioner George LaPointe, liaison Terry Stockwell, chief tester Jay McGowan, biotoxin program director Darcie Couture, shellfish program director Amy Fitzpatrick and marine patrol officer Alan Talbot. The MQA was represented by President Rocky Alley, Mike Danforth, Randy Blackwood and Becky Beal. Also present was Washington County’s state senator, Kevin Raye (R) of Lubec. Opening New FishingGround And Paying For Testing Most of the discussion centered on opening more ocean bottom and how to pay for testing it. Currently, the DMR is under contract with Jonesport fisherman David Look, who takes McGowan offshore to test the four-mile bed south of Egg Rock in Beals’s Western Bay. Look gets $1,000 per trip and takes McGowan once a month from December to April, twice in May, October and November and weekly throughout the summer. To cover more area would require more money, meaning money allotted for testing—including $30,000 in new money recently released by Gov. John Baldacci (D)— would run out before quahog season is over. Without monitoring, fishing grounds would be closed. Two weeks ago, Danforth volunteered to take McGowan into an old quahog bed, east of the one Look has been testing and southeast of Moose Peak Light, which has been closed for a long time. The old area is smaller than the one currently being worked, but quahogs are present in great numbers, McGowan said. The results of his tests — 40 samples taken over two days — were encouraging. Red tide readings were within acceptable range, meaning a second set of such numbers could result in the bed’s opening. The problem is: how to pay for additional monitoring? “You could close the red (currently open) area and open the green (currently closed) area,” suggested LaPointe, the colors being those on a nautical chart showing the two areas. “Your extra money ($30,000) will go much further if you concentrate on one area,” said Couture. The remaining money would pay for 12 weeks of testing in one area, but only seven in two, she said. Raye reported he had been in touch with his old boss, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R), who chairs the subcommittee on oceans and fisheries, for possible testing funds. While no new appropriations will come from Congress, he said Snowe promised to ask the National Marine Fisheries Service if it had money available. Enter The Volunteers Alley took a different tack. “What if we use volunteers to take Jay [into the green area]?” he asked. Gouldsboro buyer Chris Byers echoed the thought. “I’d rather volunteer a couple of boats to test a couple of times a week than close the red zone,” he said. “We shouldn’t give up something we’ve already got,” Jonesport dragger Jack Fenton said. “I think we should keep both areas open if the state is willing to work with us,” said Alley and asked for a show of hands in support. All hands went up. Volunteering to take McGowan into the green zone was next. Alley said if everyone pitched in, each boat would probably have to make only one trip. “If everybody goes,” remarked one skeptic. “I’d volunteer my boat,” said Beals fisherman Harris Norton. By the end of the meeting, at least 20 captains put their name on a list of those willing to take testers out, and pay for fuel for the trip. “You have to test every week,” said Couture. LaPointe warned, “If we don’t get the test, we have to close the area.” Collecting Tax Money Another issue receiving attention July 20 was how money for testing is raised. LaPointe reported taking a $2.5 million hit in his overall budget, a decrease affecting every aspect of his department. There is dedicated revenue for testing, however, which comes in the form of a $1.25 tax on every bushel of quahogs landed, a tax for testing, LaPointe said, that was requested by the quahog industry. The tax is paid by buyers and factored into what they pay harvesters. The total collected is less than the total landings multiplied by $1.25, however, indicating not all the dealers pay their share. LaPointe promised tightening collections. Alley suggested clams and mussels be taxed as well, since they are also affected by and tested for red tide. He said dealers who buy both quahogs and clams tell him they are “more than willing” to pay a tax on clams. Raye promised to bring up the subject at a meeting of clammers in Whiting July 27 that he plans to attend. Other Issues “What level does it get to that you don’t test every week?” Byers wanted to know. As long as levels of Alexandrium are close, replied Couture, calling this year’s outbreak particularly virulent. ”Without the [algal] bloom coming over the area,” asked Danforth, “what would make an area hot?” Red tide is different offshore, answered Couture without elaboration. Another asked why quahogs couldn’t be tested after they are sold, since harvesters are required to keep log books in which they must identify, by Loran bearings, the area in which they dragged. Couture said the logbooks only indicate broad areas. LaPointe said testing at the dealer could easily miss hot quahogs and allow them to go to market. “That’s not where we need to go.” Adam Stanwood of Steuben was skeptical that dragging areas were closed to benefit lobstermen. Talbot denied the allegation. “When the [red tide] numbers look good,” he said, “I call the lobstermen in the area. If they don’t move their gear, it’s their fault.” Asked if the warden service could patrol two areas, Talbot said it could. Many draggers commented they patrol themselves and warn boats that venture over the line that delineates excepted dragging bottom. Testing in the green area takes place the week of July 25 and now that results are shared by e-mail, if within acceptable range, could result in the area being opened by the end of the week. |
