Following a December 3 decision by the tri-state regulatory commission that sets rules for shrimp fishing, Westport Island fisherman Steve Peaslee said he is not sure he will set and haul his traps this upcoming season.

“If the science is true and the models are correct,” he said in a room packed with fishermen and news media, “we need to shut this fishery down.”

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Northern Shrimp Section came close to deciding not having a shrimp fishing season for 2013 after members heard a review of the 2012 stock assessment conducted by the Commission’s Technical Committee. 

Committee member Ann Richard from the University of Maryland's Chesapeake Biological Lab summarized this year's stock assessment, which in essence states that shrimp populations are well below what they should be. Shrimp are being overfished, according to the findings. The Technical Committee recommended a moratorium on fishing Northern Shrimp for 2013.

Dealer reports from the 2012 season showed shrimp haulings exceeded the season's total catch limit of 2211 metric tons. Trawlers began their season January 2 and trap fishermen began setting traps for shrimp February 1. The season was cut short February 17 when it was projected that the total catch limit would be exceeded. 

As a result of a 4-hour meeting, commission members determined there should still be a shrimp fishing season anyway, in light of tough economic conditions. However, the total allowable catch (TAC) is a fraction of what fishermen were permitted to haul in 2012, just 625 metric tons for the three states of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. A portion of this catch will be allocated to research and the remainder is allocated to trawl and trap fisheries.  

The season begins January 22 for trawl fishermen and February 5 for trap fishermen.

Out of 625 metric tons, trawlers will have 539 and those who trap shrimp will have 80 metric tons in total allowable catch for the season. Each fishery will close when it is projected they will reach 85 percent of their respective catch limits. And those in this industry will be notified four days in advance of a closure.

If 100 boats that haul shrimp traps go out this season, they will limited to catching a total of 1700 pounds each. 

“That's two days,” Peaslee said, considering trap fishermen are limited to 800 pounds each day they go out to haul. 

Trawlers begin their season officially January 22, but since their week days are limited to Mondays and Wednesdays, their first week will be short one day. Those who haul traps start their season February 5 and will be able to go out to haul six days a week (except Sunday).

Peaslee's remarks on the total catch limit reflected many of those voiced by other fishermen and processors at the Monday afternoon meeting.  However, several wanted to still be able to go out and haul when lobster prices have fallen and it is another resource of funds fishermen can turn to in lean times.

"I want to thank you for giving us a season this winter," David Osier of Osier's Wharf in South Bristol said to commission members. He and others made their recommendations to the commission with respect to trip limits and other rules members were considering during the course of the meeting.

Jeff Holden of Portland Shellfish encouraged commission members to try and stretch out the season as long as possible, since the fishery provides jobs for a lot of people. He said, “I'd also like to see the board adopt a different view with the way the fishery operates. We're all in and then we're all out; it's a crap shoot every single year.”

Processors and fishermen alike expressed irritation over the catch limit. “It's over,” said Spencer Fuller, Shrimp Director for Portland-based processor Cozy Harbor Seafood. He said processors are not going to invest in Maine's shrimp market with such catch limits, and buyers have been turning elsewhere. “Six hundred and twenty-five metric tons is not even a fishery,” he said. However, he said that as long as shrimp are available, Cozy Harbor would purchase them.

While the season provides a small income for a few fishermen, some are not convinced by the scientific data in the Technical Committee report and believe there are more shrimp out there. The 2012 report (www.asmfc.org) is based on several trawl surveys, biological sampling of commercial landings and other data. 

The studies reveal that the Northern Shrimp stock is being overfished, shrimp populations are considerably lower than in years' past, that the fishery's mortality levels have climbed, that there are less juvenile shrimp entering the fishery and record high water temperatures as a result of climate change are detrimental to the overall shrimp population.

While he may set some traps out this coming season, Peaslee said he would have supported a closure of the fishery in order to restore stocks for future harvests. “Sometimes you've got to take a couple of bad years on the chin to change something,” he said. However, he said there are a lot of uncertainties between the scientific data and the fishermen's experience.