Shrimp boats have been out to haul since the beginning of this year's season, January 22, but those who use traps to catch shrimp have had to wait until February 5, and may be facing further restrictions. Members of the Maine Shrimp Trappers Association will meet with officials from the Department of Marine Resources in Wiscasset Friday, Feb. 1, to discuss additional control measures in an effort to not exceed their quota.

A dimished shrimp population prompted the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission last year to reduce the overall annual shrimp catch in the region.

Some shrimp fishermen said in early December they may not even go out, considering the total low catch limit for the region: 625 metric tons for the whole fishery in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Set by the regulatory body that oversees the fishery, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Northern Shrimp Section, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) this year is just a fraction of last year's at 2,211 metric tons.

A preliminary landings report for the 2013 season shows the available TAC remaining. In Maine, landings are up to 37,485 pounds (17 metric tons) with 45 active boats. Overall, landings are up to 50,972 pounds, or 23 metric tons, with 52 boats out on the water. Average price per pound is $1.45.

Trap fishermen were allocated 13 percent of this year's TAC, which amounts to more than 80 metric tons of the Pandalus Borealis (northern shrimp). If 100 boats go out to haul traps, they will have about two days' worth of fishing due to an 800 pound per day limit. Trappers have a few days before they can set their baited traps (February 3). At this point, they are permitted a Monday through Saturday fishing schedule, but that may change.

"There are a whole suite of effort control measures," Chris Vonderweidt of the DMR said, referring to limits such as time of day, days per week boats can go out and daily catch per day. He said they are seeking input from those in the industry to see what additional measures could be implemented while still allowing for a profitable fishery.

Trappers will convene with DMR officials at the Lincoln County Communications Center in Wiscasset for a Listening Session, starting at 10 a.m. on Feb. 1.

The Section's Technical Committee issued a 2012 northern shrimp stock assessment, which was presented to fishermen and commission members. The report, available at www.asmfc.org, was presented by Technical Committee member Ann Richard from the University of Maryland's Chesapeake Biological Lab. It showed trawl surveys conducted off the Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts coasts, some of which took place last spring and summer.

The report states there was concern that surveys taken over the past few years were not adequately tracking the shrimp. But one possible explanation, that shrimp were migrating into cooler ocean pockets, was rejected after previous year surveys suggested no such trend.  

The 81-page report demonstrates an extensive body of research was conducted by scientists to illustrate the fishery's condition. It includes comparisons of current data to survey results dating back over the past 40 years; commercial landings over time; biological sampling; size, age and condition of shrimp; the yield of new juvenile shrimp entering the fishery and a lot of other information.  

One conclusion the report makes is warmer water temperatures are likely to be the blame for the steep decline in shrimp populations in January and February of 2012. 

Subsurface temperatures measured in shrimp habitats this year were “highest on record” and surface temperatures measured in Boothbay Harbor show a warming trend close to highs seen during the 1950s, when shrimp populations dropped dramatically. 

According to a chart, the entire New England fishery saw just 2.2 metric tons of northern shrimp, 100 percent of which was caught in Maine, in 1958. In 1965, the fishery's total landings climbed to over 900 metric tons and by 1969, landings reached a peak of just under 11,000 metric tons. Commercial landings have not been nearly as high since and water temperatures have been increasing.

“The environment is hot; it's warming and it's reached levels that are warmest on record,” Richard said in her presentation to section members. 

Data from multiple studies indicates the shrimp are adversely affected by temperature change.

In late fall to early winter, female shrimp migrate inshore to hatch their eggs.  Once they do, these shrimp are vulnerable and more susceptible to death, but at 3 1/2 years, they can still reproduce. The female shrimp are larger; they are also the targeted species in the shrimp fishing industry.

Richard said warmer temperatures have led to earlier hatching. Also, harvested shrimp have been getting smaller and the number of all sizes of shrimp has dropped.