BAR HARBOR — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASFMC) will host its 75th annual meeting at the Harborside Hotel here from Oct. 23-27.
The commission is the deliberating body of the 15 coastal Atlantic states from Maine to Florida that coordinates the conservation and management of 25 near-shore fish species.
The commissioners hold meetings throughout the year. But once annually, all the delegations gather. Hosting duties rotate among the states.
The annual meeting is free and open to the public, with the exception of executive sessions.
Each state is represented by the state’s marine management agency, a state legislator and a fisherman.
Maine is represented by Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher (or his proxy, Terry Stockwell), State Sen. Brian Langley and Stephen Train, a lobsterman from Long Island.
Langley represents eastern Hancock County, including Mount Desert Island, Swans Island, Frenchboro, Stonington and other busy county ports.
He has been on the commission for the past four years and said the ASMFC is integral to conserving Atlantic coastal species and allowing the 15 states to work together.
“[Commissioners] manage species all along the coast,” said Langley. “Some species are migratory, so they affect more than one state.”
All states contribute researchers to various committees. Langley said the ASMFC’s policies and regulations are all based on facts.
“They are heavily based in science and research,” he said. “Each committee has a team of researchers that research fishing mortality, landings, to really see how you can best manage fisheries going forward.”
Striped bass, Atlantic menhaden, river herring, American lobster and Jonah crab are all fisheries important to local fishermen and will be discussed during the annual meeting.
There will be an opportunity for public comment at every board meeting.
Langley encourages local fishermen or anyone interested in Maine’s fisheries to attend the annual meeting.
“I would encourage the fishermen to come out,” he said. “I think in general, it is good to be involved in government.”
Atlantic striped bass are integral to Maine’s sport fishing industry. The Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board will meet from 3-5 p.m. on Oct. 24.
In July, the commission expanded the menhaden, or pogies, fishery after it was shut down when fishermen hit the state’s quota due to irregular demand.
Atlantic herring is the preferred bait for lobstermen, but a shortage of that species led to an more than 30-percent price increase in July, so lobstermen switched to menhaden for lobster bait.
Fishermen had never reached the state’s 166,000-pound menhaden quota in years past, but did this summer due to the herring shortage.
In response, the ASMFC expanded the menhaden quota due to the “episodic event,” but next year’s quota is not set.
“The ability to find bait and pay for it, those are concerns for our local fishermen,” said Langley. The Atlantic Menhaden Management Board will meet from 2-6 p.m. on Oct. 26.
American lobster will be discussed during the American Lobster Management Board meeting from 1-4 p.m. on Oct. 27.
Trap limits, lobster reporting, Jonah crab and deep-sea coral are all topics for that meeting.
Conservation of the species is another issue to be discussed.
“The biggest thing for me is looking into the eyes of the southern New England lobstermen as they talk about a collapsed fishery,” said Langley. “We have to pay attention in Maine to make sure that never happens here.”
Langley said Maine has an effective fisheries management plan in place.
“It’s important that Maine leads,” said Langley. “Maine is respected, and other states have respect for our management of lobster. As a rule, I think Maine has been a leader in sustainable fisheries.”
The annual meeting opens with a welcome reception at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 23. Meetings will run from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 24, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. On Oct. 25, meetings will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 27.
Those wanting to attend the dinner should register. Visit www.asmfc.org/home/2016-annual-meeting to register and view the complete meeting agenda.
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