Tag Archives: “mercury contamination”

Mercury contamination could permanently close lobster grounds at mouth of Penobscot River

“I commend the DMR for saying, ‘Look, we have an issue. We have to address it,’” Mike Dassett, a lobsterman from Belfast, said at the hearing. “It might be a bumpy road in the beginning, but it’ll be worth it in the end.” David Cousens, president of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, was at the hearing but had little to say afterwards. “No one testified against it. No one testified for it,” Cousens said of the proposed permanent rule to close the upper bay fishing grounds. Read more here  BDN 16:57

Lobsterman to find new place for traps after lobstering banned downstream from former chemical plant

BDN“It’s a very unfortunate thing,” he said Wednesday. “I hope that the state’s making the decision on good facts. I certainly do understand that decision. We have to protect the status of the Maine lobster at all costs. We’ve got to make sure we don’t do anything to jeopardize that. It’s unfortunate [the closure] is in the area where I’m fishing.” Darren Shute of Stockton Springs. Read more@BDN  08:49

Lobster, Crab closure on the Penobscot River, prompted by contamination found in lobsters, will last at least two years

The Maine Department of Marine Resources said Tuesday it will close a seven-square-mile area at the mouth of the Penobscot River to the harvesting of lobsters and crabs because “mercury contamination” has been found in lobsters there. Read more@portlandpress  07:27