Urchin fishermen upset by DMR’s cuts

Some sea urchin fishermen Downeast are upset about the cuts made to the upcoming season for eastern Maine, Zone 2, by the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), arguing they are excessive. The DMR is reducing the number of fishing days by eight, from 38 to 30, and the daily catch limit from seven to six totes because of concerns that the fishery is not sustainable. The new season and catch limits were approved by the DMR Advisory Council on July 9.
Tracey Sawtelle of Lubec, who attended the DMR's public hearing on the proposal in Ellsworth on June 13, stated that where he is fishing he has seen an increase in the urchin biomass over the past two seasons. "I think this proposal is way out of hand. It's a 30% reduction." Sawtelle, who is chairman of the Sea Urchin Zone Council, noted that the zone council had voted for a 38-day, 6-tote-limit season for Zone 2 and felt that the DMR "went behind the council's back. It does not make one comfortable working with the DMR after this." He noted that the urchin council has always developed the season calendar. "I feel the council has been left completely out of this. DMR works for the council and the council works for DMR. I call it quite an insult to the council. That's not the way to do business."
Markus Jones of Gouldsboro figured the average diver would be harvesting about $18,000 less for the season, because of the cuts. "For me, as a captain of a boat with three divers, that is $38,000 plus. That's a huge income cut. When I see the industry and where it is going as far as these cuts are concerned, I think it's too drastic."
Other urchin fishermen also spoke against the proposal at the Ellsworth hearing, while some submitted their comments. Sam Glass, a diver, wrote, "The changes I am hearing about I believe would be detrimental to the industry. I believe that the buyers are barely holding on as it is, and this reduction may push them over the edge. I believe the measures currently in place are pretty conservative, and the small group of people fishing give the industry a chance to sustain, the way it is."
In its response to the comments, the DMR wrote that the average urchin abundance in Zone 2 has declined every year since 2014, according to survey results. Average urchin abundance in Zone 2 is roughly half of what it was just two years ago. In 2001 there was an average of nine urchins per square meter; in 2019 it had dropped to one urchin. Of greatest concern have been the decline in the area that includes the Cutler shore and the slower but steady decline in the Cobscook Bay area, which has consistently been more productive than all other regions of the state. The DMR also noted that, at the March and April zone council meetings, a number of members of the industry spoke about the need for substantial cuts.
Declining stocks in Washington County have resulted in harvesters moving westward, but western areas cannot sustain the increased fishing pressure, the DMR maintains.
Also, the DMR believes that the reference to a 30% reduction in the catch is an overestimate. The season and tote reductions will result in a 20% to 25% reduction in landings, the DMR estimates.
The DMR has not enacted any new urchin fishery restrictions for Zone 2 since 2013 and maintains that "waiting another year could be disastrous for this fishery."
As for the economic loss, the DMR figures a 20% to 25% reduction will result in a loss of $9,000 to $11,000 per diver. Its statement says, "In our experience, small cuts in this fishery in the past have not prevented the stock's decline, and a larger cut is necessary to prevent a fishery collapse and much more severe, and potentially permanent, economic impact."
For Zone 2, 40‑day seasons will be held for divers, trappers, rakers and draggers in 2019‑2020, from which harvesters may only fish up to 30 days of their choosing. The rule-making reduces the fishing days by eight days and opportunity days by five days from the 2018‑2019 season. The early season for divers begins on September 24 and ends on December 31. For draggers the early season begins October 1 and ends on December 12. The late season for divers and draggers starts on December 3 and ends on March 12. For the Whiting and Dennys bays limited access area, a 15‑day season will be held for divers and for draggers.