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URCHIN CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT NOTES
Cobscook Fisheries Forum, Eastport, February 7, 2004
Cobscook Bay Fishermen's Association Meeting, Lubec, February 26, 2004
FACTS
Information presented at the Cobscook Fisheries Forum demonstrates how Cobscook Bay differs from the rest of the State of Maine on urchins:
- Landings sold in the CobscookBay area (Lubec, Dennysville, and Eastport) in 2002-03 were 1.5 million pounds valued at $1.9 million. This compares to landings in all of Zone 1 of 2.0 million pounds. Total landings in
Zone 2 were 4.7 million pounds. (Margaret Hunter, DMR)
- Cobscook fishermen held 26% of urchin dragger licenses in 2003. (CobscookBayResourceCenter, from Department of Marine Resources data)
- According to annual DMR urchin surveys, while the grams per square meter of urchins have declined in the rest of the state over the last three years, they have increased
in locations surveyed in CobscookBay. (Margaret Hunter, DMR)
PRINCIPLES/GUIDELINES
The following ideas were suggested to guide our decision-making:
- Speak with a united voice.
- Don't do anything in one fishery that will have a negative affect on another.
- Don't just "cut"- "add" through stock enhancement.
- Local people should have a say in how restrictions are implemented in their areas.
- Try to stabilize price fluctuations.
- Create a sustainable fishery, so our kids can fish.
MANAGEMENT & CONSERVATION TOOLS
The following ideas were discussed. Some of them are complementary and fit together; others contradict each other. Some require research or pilot projects to
explore feasibility. Some ideas could apply statewide; other are meant to apply to a Cobscook management area. All together are offered in an attempt to consider the broadest possible set of management and conservation tools.
- Establish a shorter season. Cut the number of fishing days to 60. These days should be used between October 1 – December 31. Allow fishing only Monday – Friday. Make weekends be no fishing days; also take the holidays off to come up with the 60 days.
- Establish a daily catch limit. Set a catch limit by pounds or totes. 10 totes? #1,000? #700? #600? Less?
- Establish local management areas.
- Setup nine zones statewide similar to DMR survey zones.
- Establish a Cobscook management area.
- As one of nine zones. OR
- As an experimental fishing area. OR
- As a Zone 3 or sub-zone of Zone 2.
- Only fish in the zone in which you live or declare into. OR
- Fish in any zone as long as you fish by the rules adopted for that zone.
- Establish closed areas.
- For seeding the bottom with juvenile urchins.
- For transfer of adult urchins from another location.
- For spat collection or nursery growout.
- For restocking sites with broodstock.
- With loss of license if harvesting in closed area.
- Modify gear. Go to a 2-inch square mesh back for the entire drag.
- Establish time limits or "triggers".
- If closures are imposed, establish clearly defined goals to trigger the re-opening of specific areas.
- If a local area conservation and management plan is established, try it for a specific time, probably three years.
RESEARCH AND PILOT PROJECTS
- Work with Dr. Larry Harris, UNH, on enhancement studies and trials.
- Work with Peacock Urchin Hatchery in Lubec on enhancement studies and trials.
- Apply urchin surcharge money to research in Cobscook Bay.
- Find other sources of funds for research and enhancement pilot projects.
- Make fishermen's boats available for research.
- As voluntary contributions of "in-kind" services.
- As boat time paid for through grants.
- As boat time required or donated as "conservation hours" that create eligibility to access to fishing areas.
- Research topics:
- Re-seed the bottom where urchins have previously done well, but don't now.
- Low-cost studies of adult urchin re-location methods and survival rates.
- Spat collection or nursery growout.
- Restocking sites with broodstock.
- Examine the effectiveness of the current "culling" requirements.
- Strategies for stabilizing markets.
- Effectiveness of organizing a marketing co-op.
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