AUGUSTA, Maine—The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has added two fishing days for shrimp trawlers in response to low catch rates seen early in the season.
Effective Feb. 11, the trawl fishery will be able to land fish Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The change will remain in place until further notice.
Previously, shrimp trawlers were able fish on Monday and Wednesday only. The trawler shrimp fishery opened Jan. 22.
Landing days for the trap fishery, which opened Feb. 5, remain the same, with landings allowed on every day but Sunday.
In Maine, hours for the trawl fishery have been changed to 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., not around the clock, as had been allowed. The change came at the recommendation of the Maine Marine Patrol, which was concerned about possible gear conflict at night between trawl nets and trap lines set by lobstermen and shrimp trappers.
“These decisions provide ample opportunity for trawlers and trappers to land their seasonal quota but reflect our commitment to balancing the financial needs and the safety of fishermen,” said Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher.
The commission’s northern shrimp section will keep the fishery open until each sector lands 85 percent of its total allowable catch. The trawl fishery limit is 539 metric tons and the trap fishery limit is 80.5 metric tons.
Trappers are able to land a maximum of 500 pounds per day.
“We’re monitoring the quota,” Mike Waine, fishery management plan coordinator for the commission, said Monday.
In Maine, DMR monitors the catch.
A four-day advance notice for each fishery will be issued prior to closure, according to a commission press release.
The northern shrimp section of the Atlantic states commission includes Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.