The Commercial Fishing Safety Council will hold it's quarterly meeting on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 1pm-2pm at the Samoset Resort Golf Club in Rockland. Below and attached are the meeting agenda.

Welcome - Janine Drouin, Chair, CFSC

• Approval of the Minutes of the Quarterly Meeting, December 17, 2025
• General welcome to all in attendance during the Fishermen’s Forum

Update and discussion of safety issues related to ropeless fishing (aka on demand fishing)- Janine and Ann

Pursuant to 38 M.R.S. §480-D, sub-§9, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is required to provide the Maine Department of Environmental Protection with an assessment of the impacts on the fishing industry of a proposed dredging operation. Chipman Wharf LLC are proposing to dredge a 50’ x 300’ access channel from their wharf to the federal navigation channel in the Narraguagus River. This material is proposed to be mechanically dredged using barge mounted equipment and transported by scow to the Douglas Island Disposal Site.

Pursuant to 38 M.R.S. §480-D, sub-§9, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is required to provide the Maine Department of Environmental Protection with an assessment of the impacts on the fishing industry of a proposed dredging operation. Chipman Wharf LLC are proposing to dredge a 50’ x 300’ access channel from their wharf to the federal navigation channel in the Narraguagus River. This material is proposed to be mechanically dredged using barge mounted equipment and transported by scow to the Douglas Island Disposal Site.

An in-person meeting of the DMR Advisory Council is scheduled for March 11 at 1 pm in Room 118 of the DMR Offices at 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta Maine.

At the Lobster Advisory Council meeting held on January 27, 2026, the Council voted to initiate Council discussions regarding potential conservation measure options. This was a result of discussions around the most recent Stock Assessment. Although the results of the Assessment do not initiate management action, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Lobster Board is expecting industry to have continued conversations in the event they are necessary in the future. The LAC will hold a meeting on Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 at 11:00 AM.

The Commercial Fishing Safety Council's working group will meet remotely via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 7pm-8pm. A link to join the meeting is below.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Notice to State Scallop License holders an

Pursuant to 38 M.R.S. §480-D, sub-§9, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is required to provide the Maine Department of Environmental Protection with an assessment of the impacts on the fishing industry of a proposed dredging operation. The City of Saco is proposing to conduct a maintenance dredge of the West Camp Ellis Anchorage on the Saco River.

The following press release is being shared on behalf of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is holding a public hearing on the aquaculture proposal listed below: