Seeking Industry Participants: 2025 Northern Shrimp Winter Sampling Research Pilot

Seeking Industry Participants: 2025 Northern Shrimp Winter Sampling Research Pilot Program

The Maine Department of Marine Resources, in cooperation with the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Northern Shrimp Board, seeks fishing industry members to participate in a Winter Sampling Research Program for Northern shrimp, likely starting February 2025 and running into March 2025. The purpose of this research project is to collect northern shrimp samples similar to those that would be collected from commercial fishing catches if there was a fishery. Shrimp trawlers and trappers are encouraged to apply.

This program will not receive funding from the ASMFC or the states and participation in the Program will be entirely self-funded by industry participants. Participants in this research will be allowed to land and sell Northern shrimp, subject to specified program limitations . Participating vessels may fish for a maximum of six weeks or until the research set-aside is reached. 

A maximum of seven participants will be selected from the pool of applicants, including 4 trawl participants and 3 trap participants, and will be chosen to ensure geographic coverage. Participating vessels will be assigned to one of three regions in Maine: Western Maine (Kittery to Phippsburg), Midcoast Maine (Phippsburg to Owls Head), or Eastern Maine (east of Owls Head). Participants may specify the region(s) in which they are willing to fish in their application.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

In order to apply, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a Maine resident; and
• Hold a current license from Maine DMR that authorizes the holder to fish commercially (e.g. a Commercial Fishing License, Lobster and Crab Fishing License, etc.); and
• Have demonstrated expertise fishing for shrimp, including at least 2-years of shrimp landings history; and
• Be willing to meet the project requirements specified in the full Solicitation Letter.

Maine DMR will select participants from the pool of eligible applicants based on the following considerations:

• Number of years of experience fishing for shrimp
• Timeframe during which the applicant last fished for shrimp
• History of marine resources violations during the prior 7 years
• Experience with participation in other DMR research projects
• Geographic area(s) in which applicant is willing to fish
• Vessel specifications
• Additional spatial information that an applicant is able to provide about their fishing activity (e.g. VMS, trackers, environmental monitoring, etc.)
• Availability to fish during the full-time frame of the research project

Should the Department receive more applications than available opportunities for participation, the Department reserves the right to select randomly from similarly qualified individuals.

Application and Contacts:

• Before filling out an application, please read the detailed solicitation letter available HERE.
• The application can be found HERE.
• Information on past northern shrimp winter sampling can be found HERE.

All applications must be received by January 3, 2025.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Corrin Flora at (207) 446-8126 or Lulu Bates at (207) 592-1841.