AUGUSTA — Lobstermen are lobbying against a proposed law that would eliminate potential penalties for Maine-based groundfishing boats that catch lobsters in federally regulated waters.
More than 20 lobstermen are expected at the State House Wednesday to speak out against the bill. They say it would loosen regulations that protect the lobster resource.
In a split vote, the Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee last month endorsed the bill, which would allow Maine-based boats to keep lobsters they catch in the federal zones, as long as they don’t land them in Maine.
Fishermen now routinely keep the lobster by-catch and sell them in Massachusetts, but they face possible $50,000 fines if Maine officials catch them with lobsters in federal waters. Bill supporters say it would encourage fishermen to keep their boats in Portland.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
-
SportsBoys hockey: Lone senior Myles Hammond has had standout career for rebuilding Messalonskee
-
News
Unidentified passersby stopped to help Farmington fire victims Saturday
-
News
Farmington couple who died in house fire Saturday remembered as ‘amazing’
-
Health
Can vaccinated people still spread the coronavirus?
-
New England
Hundreds claim decades of abuse by 150 New Hampshire youth detention staffers
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi {SUB NAME}, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have one? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login to participate in the conversation. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.