MENHADEN: Regulations & Reporting Update for FY 2020

Good afternoon,

 

The DMR Advisory Council met in March to discuss and approve proposed rulemaking for Chapter 41 Atlantic Menhaden for the 2020 fishing year. Final rulemaking and the updated regulations are available on our website. 

 

While we are still a month or so away from the anticipated arrival of menhaden in state waters, there are a few noteworthy updates to the regulation for 2020 that require early preparation for interested parties. 

 

 

COMMERCIAL PELAGIC ANADROMOUS LICENSE WITH MENHADEN PERMIT

 

Previously in 2019, harvesters that were interested in targeting menhaden were asked to "declare in" to the fishery through email. This is no longer required. When renewing or applying for the Commercial Pelagic Anadromous License, individuals will select the "menhaden harvester permit" on the application to indicate they intend to target menhaden.

 

"Permits: Menhaden" must be on your license to harvest menhaden.  PLEASE CHECK YOUR LICENSE TO CONFIRM THAT YOU OBTAINED THIS PERMIT (see highlighted area below). 

 

If you have already purchased your 2020 Commercial Pelagic Anadromous License and intend to target menhaden but it is not printed on your license, then DMR Licensing Staff can update your license accordingly. Please call 207-624-6550 (option 2) and in your voicemail state your name, license number, and landings number to request the menhaden permit update. There is no fee associated with this permit.

 

 

SMALL SCALE PERSONAL USE NO-SALE PERMIT

 

The small scale personal use no-sale permit is a new option for the 2020 fishing year. This permit would allow harvesters to take up to three barrels of menhaden, seven days a week, by bait gillnet only. Harvesters may begin harvesting as soon as menhaden are present in state waters and would be held to the effort restrictions of this permit for the duration of the fishing season. 

 

With this permit, the harvester is prohibited from using any other gear for harvesting and prohibited from selling menhaden. 

 

To be eligible for this permit, the harvester needs to possess a Commercial Pelagic and Anadromous License with a menhaden harvester permit, available through LEEDS and email Melissa (melissa.smith@maine.gov) to request a permit letter. 

 

Small Scale Personal Use No-Sale Permit requests must be received by May 15th, annually.   

 

 

ELECTRONIC REPORTING FOR 2020

 

Any person that holds a Commercial Pelagic and Anadromous Fishing License issued under 12 M.R.S. §6502-A and a Menhaden Harvester Permit under that license must submit daily catch reports during the state and episodic fisheries; and, weekly catch reports during the small scale fishery. Catches from fixed gear must be included in these reports. Any person that holds more than one Commercial Pelagic and Anadromous Fishing License with the Menhaden Harvester Permit must report for each license they hold. Reports are required even if the menhaden caught during the week have not been landed. 

Note: Menhaden reports are not required from menhaden carrier vessels.

 

For information on how to report electronically online through LEEDS, there are several how-to's created to provide detailed instruction for reporting a negative report (or did not fish) and reporting a positive landing report for menhaden. 

 

It is anticipated that the electronic harvester reporting application, suitable for either iOS or Android phones and tablets, will be available June 1. More details on this new reporting feature will be made available in the coming months.

 

To sign up as a  beta tester for the harvester reporting application or to request assistance with electronic reporting, please contact Marissa.L.DeCosta@maine.gov or 207-633-9566. 

 

For any questions on the menhaden fishery, please contact Melissa.Smith@maine.gov or 207-624-6558.

• File Positive Landings Report_Herring.pdf
• File Positive Landings Report_Menhaden.pdf