The DMR Bureau of Public Health invites you to attend the May Aquaculture Advisory Council meeting Thursday, May 18, 2023. We will start promptly at 10:00 AM and finish at approximately 12:00 PM. This meeting will be conducted in person at the DMR Augusta office in Room 224. To access Room 224, use the side door public entrance and proceed to the second floor. 

The DMR Advisory Council will meet via Microsoft Teams on Monday, May 8th. The agenda is as follows and is attached to this notice. The meeting link is below.

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Special Licenses-Action (voting)

• The Out and About Lobster Tour (Alex Pelling)

3. Regulations-Action (voting)

• Chapter 41: 2023 Menhaden Harvest Season (Melissa Smith)

4. Upcoming Regulations

Overview:

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is currently confirming eligibility for disaster relief funds for Atlantic herring harvesters who have been impacted by a substantial decline in the spawning stock biomass and resulting quota reductions for the important lobster bait fishery.

The Spring ME-NH trawl survey conducted by the State of Maine, Department of Marine Resources is scheduled to begin May 1, 2023 in New Hampshire working east to Lubec. The more information we have regarding our fisheries, the better equipped we are to defend these resources and your livelihoods. The ME-NH trawl survey provides valuable information for the management of important commercially harvested species.

The 2023 ShAC Q2 meeting will be held on Friday, June 23 from 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM at the Moore Community Center in Ellsworth or via Microsoft Teams.

The Commercial Fishing Safety Council will meet Wednesday, April 19, 2023 from 7pm to 8pm. 

The meeting agenda will include the following topics:

• Damage Control Kits
• National Commercial Fishing Safety Meeting
• Harvester member for Council
• USCG Examiner discussion
• Safety Survey Results
• Fishermen's Forum follow-up
• Other Issues

The meeting link is below:

Augusta – The Department of Marine Resources’ Maine Coastal Program (MCP) and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Municipal Planning Assistance Program (MPAP) are each seeking applications for coastal planning grants totaling $315,000.

Please hold the date for the next Lobster Advisory Council (LAC) Meeting to be held on Thursday, April 27th, 2023 at 4:00 PM.  

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is holding a public hearing on the proposal listed below.  The hearing will be held in-person with a remote option.