Tag Archives: Commissioner Keliher
Two Maine Lobstermen Have Licenses Suspended for Violating Marine Resource Laws
Two Maine lobstermen have had their licenses suspended by the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) for violating laws intended to protect harvesters’ property and to sustain the lobster resource. As a result of an investigation led by Maine Marine Patrol Officer Kaelyn Kuni, Calvin Pinkham, 55 of Steuben, was charged in 2022 for stealing a total of 59 lobster traps belonging to seven other fishermen, a violation known as trap molesting. Rodney Genthner, 38 of Friendship, has had his license suspended for six-years after an investigation led by Maine Marine Patrol Officer Brandon Sperling in 2022 discovered that he was in possession of traps belonging to two other harvesters. >click to read the rest< 15:28
Updates to the Lobster Industry from Commissioner Keliher
As I have promised before, I want to make sure you are as informed as possible as the situation around right whales evolves. There have been several developments in the last week, many of which speak to the seriousness of the situation. Maine Lobstermen’s Association V. National Marine Fisheries Service, As you know, DMR is a participant in the lawsuit filed by MLA which asserts that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) erred by failing to rely on the best scientific information,,, >click here to continue< 16:02
An Update from Commissioner Keliher Regarding CARES Act Funds
Over the past few days I have received several calls from harvesters and the press asking about the CARES Act relief money. It seems that some are putting it out on social media that “The State is keeping the money” or “It’s only going to support aquaculture.” One individual asked me, “How are we supposed to know what is happening when no one tells us anything?” That statement shows me that the webinars and conference calls we’ve had to rely on can’t replace in-person communications. Regarding the CARES Act money,,, >click to read< 12:46
Notice from Commissioner Keliher: Update on Federal Whale Rules
As many of you know, the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (TRT) met last week and recommended broad measures that included a target to remove 50 percent of endlines from the Gulf of Maine. The remaining endlines will also need to be made safer so that, if a whale does come in contact with a line, the rope will break. The outcome for Maine’s lobster industry could have been far worse. Many TRT participants did push for a phase-in of ropeless fishing over five or ten years, large scale closed areas (including two in Maine), and weak rope across the entire fishery. In the end, Maine delegates were successful in pushing back on those proposals,,, Click to read<10:12
