Maine's Scallop Rotational Management
Gary Hatch, scalloper.  
Submitted at DMR proposed scalloping rules meeting, Rockland Ferry Terminal October 20, 2008

The following is a presentation to another view to manage our Me. State scallop resource.

As we all know the scallop resource in our state waters is and has been for more than ten years less than fruitful. In an attempt to start to rebuild the stock biomass we first must have areas that are known to produce scallops become healthy enough to produce spat that will replenish other areas away from the original closed areas.

Purpose; As these areas build they will start to produce spat that will flow out of the closed area into other areas that should define the layout of movement of spat. This in turn will start to define other areas that could be closed which will begin our system for possible rotation of our closed areas. If not we will know their movement and be able to monitor them to set fishing limits for specific areas.

First; however we must set these areas apart from the open bottom, as to protect them from fishing pressure. As well we must use all the resources that we have available to us to help these areas to reproduce as quickly as possible, (reseeding, monitoring predators, checking for viruses, etc. Monitoring them as to the amount of recruitment that's being produced)
Scope; With all areas at such a low level of recruitment, and what little fishing is taking place keeping the biomass at such a low level we are not able to rebuild our fishery. With all likely hoods it will not unless we should have a large recruitment event from another source.

Secondly; We will have to pick several places to close that are known areas for strong recruitment that are in areas of good tidal flush as well strong nutrients for feed.
We will also have to format them in large enough areas so that the core of the area can be monitored by law enforcement bringing into play that the areas chosen be able to be monitored from shore as well as from the sea.

I'm sure that there will be hundreds of areas to be chosen, however we'll have to put our best foot forward on this and look to the whole picture and not your own snapshot.

For all practical purposes let's start with five areas spread out along the coast as not to impact local fishing to the point that it closes complete communities to access to fishing. 
These areas will have to be closed for many years, not one or two but as long as needed to
achieve our objective, then closely monitored as not to create an area of over abundance that smothers the area or allows a situation that builds a potential for a virus to form.

As time moves on we more than likely will have to arrange a system for limited fishing in these areas to maintain them from becoming over populated, which would provide some economic influx as well keeping populations at a sustainable level.

Area Format; as science has proven that the tidal flow in the Gulf Of Me. Is from the east, it will be imperative that we choose areas east very carefully as to start our recruitment from strong reproducing bottom.

AREA ONE; Starting at a point known as Howard Mountain dome in Machias south to the west end of Libby Island then south 180 degrees true to the state line (3 miles),then east along this line to the point of the west side of Double Head Shot Island touching onto the eastern shore of Scotch island east to land.

This area known as Machias bay not only is a very well defined Eddie from the tidal flow from the Bay of Fundy, It is well known to be a fertile scallop production area.

Area Two; Starting at Bass Harbor Light going N/E/E to Bakers Island Light, continuing East to the State three mile line, Then West along this line to a point that the West end of Great Duck Island Lines up on the Eastern ear of Great Gott Island back to Bass Hr Light.

As another area of interest would be Spoon Island channel for future interest or as a community closure for Stonington area fishermen?

Area Three; Starting at the east end of Andrews Island south to the north west end of the three mile line exemption area south to the south west end of this line, west to Green Is. Seal Ledges, West to the Northern end of Metinic Island, then N/N/E to Two bush Light, back to the Eastern end of Andrews Island.

Area Four; From the Southern end of Inner Heron Island North along the western shore to the southwest end of Rutherford Island, north along the shore to the northern shore of the South Bristol gut, Then N/N/W to the C9 Shoal buoy in East Boothbay then south along the shore to lands end at the eastern ear of Linekin Neck (the old restaurant ) back to the start point.

Area Five; Starting at the southern end of Lower Goose Island (Out side of Freeport) south to the north east end of Whaleboat Island S/S/W to the western end of Haskell Island then N/N/W to the north eastern end of Eagle Island, to the east end of States Island, North to the eastern end of Great Cheabeague Island then back to the starting point on Lower goose Island.

Though there may be many other areas that we could close I feel these are spreading the closed areas over the state and not just one section. This will allow for many parts of our state fishery to start to rebuild, as well as letting the areas communities start to see if this type of system will work for them. If so how to expand on it.

Purpose; The purpose of the closures are to rebuild a central brood stock that as these areas rebuild they will produce spat that will flow out of the areas to reseed a larger portion of the area as to allow some fishing.

At the center of this plan will have to be a monitoring plan for the closed areas as to make sure that there aren't problems in the area. A good place to develop our monitoring program should be the closed area at the Damariscotta River, as it's close to the Boothbay Lab and in my mind it may be a very active reproductive bed.

EFFORT CONTROLS: (HOT TOPIC) this will be something I'm sure will be a volatile subject but we must address at this time to insure that all is for not.

Drag; In keeping the weight and foot print of this type of fishing to an effective level for the class of fishing vessels in the fishery it would seem that we would turn to the side of caution?
With this in mind it would seem that the maximum drag should be in the six to seven foot size with a (1 %) to (2) inch bale size.

Rings; As we fish extremely hard bottom we could stay with the (3.5) inch ring as we are at now, however I would like to try the (4) inch ring mandated by NMFS but allow the links of the apron to be covered with cookies as to let just the ring size due the size sorting and less the gaps between the rings.

Divers; for safety concerns this should be no less than two men to a boat. A bag limit should be set for each man aboard, say sixty pounds or three tanks of air max. Per man.
Also all other state mandated safety rule to date.

Days: Trying to set a day of the week to fish in winter in Maine is just asking for someone to get killed! If we start season in January to the end of March I'm sure we'll stay within a respectable time frame.

Catch Limits; this may change over time as to reflect the biomass of product available. However in setting this limit there are some factors to consider?

The class catcher, fulltime mobile gear fisherman, Part time mobile gear fisherman, Diver
Define class catcher;

Full time mobile gear fisherman defined as a vessel(Person) that for the full year uses mobile fishing gear to pursue the living.

Part time mobile gear fisherman would be a vessel (person) who only fishes with mobile gear for part of the year, or only fish's part of the year in this fishery and does not fish the entire year.

Divers would fall under the rules set for their class.

Catch Limits continued,

For the full time mobile I would set the limit low enough as to discourage transit fishing, we've seen in the past that this puts a high amount of fishing pressure on one or two areas that become over fished. This would only hinder our effort to rebuild the fishery.

Part time mobile would be set by a percentage or full time fishermen (say .75%) Divers would be set by their own rule

Full time drag; 120#
Part time drag; 90#

Divers; 60# per license diver not tender with class restrictions

Gary Hatch