The tension between fishermen and policy makers during a Nov. 15 public hearing was evident as a standing-room-only audience heard words not uttered since 1978, the last time the shrimp fishery was closed for a season.
The initial recommendation made by the ASMFC Technical Committee based on the estimated size and distribution of current northern shrimp stocks, was to have no season.
According to the ASMFC technical committee, overall abundance of shrimp is very low. Shrimp are males until approximately an age of three and a half years. At that point they enter a transition phase that allows them to become female and carry eggs. Shrimp typically have a life span of five years and are able to reproduce for two years as females. The technical committee felt that “the population of large female shrimp capable of reproducing this year is very scarce.” Members also believe that “the small to medium sized shrimp, those that will be females next year, are moderately abundant and that the protection of that body of shrimp is essential to future shrimp reproduction.”
An industry advisory panel argued that at least a small shrimp season was crucial to maintain the infrastructure and gear used in the capture and processing of shrimp. John Norton, chair of the ASMFC shrimp advisory panel, asserted that “sixty five percent of the regions shrimp processing capacity has been lost in the last two years.” If there were no season this year, he felt, “the remaining processing capacity would be lost.” Norton believed that “the bodies of small shrimp, next year’s females, would be protected by nature of the markets and the region’s inability to process small shrimp; if the fishermen cannot sell them, they will not catch them.” Norton did feel that “this year’s stock condition was the worst in 18 years.” Regardless of the season, he felt, “the industry would only limp through the winter.”
Those in attendance at the Nov. 15 meeting felt strongly that there needed to be at least a small season. With winter and Christmas approaching, and the current state of the economy, many felt, losing the shrimp season could be a knockdown punch to many local fishermen.
“Economically, the season looks poor,” said Dan Schick, shrimp biologist from the Maine Department of Marine Resources. He continued, saying, “the processing capacity to handle small shrimp on the Maine coast is nonexistent; automated peelers are gone and picking lines don’t want to deal with small shrimp.” Schick is optimistic that the limited season will sustain those that need it through the winter.