LD1549 - Lobster Dragging

(2013)

An Act To Provide an Exemption for Incidentally Caught Lobsters

Sponsored by Sponsored by: Sen. Anne Haskell (D – Portland)

What is the bill?

LD 1549 would have allowed commercial fishermen to travel through Maine waters with lobsters caught while dragging for groundfish and sell those lobsters outside of Maine. Current law prohibits the possession and landing of lobsters in Maine caught by groundfishermen while dragging. Maine’s lobstermen strongly opposed LD 1549 because dragging is an unsustainable way to harvest lobsters. Large offshore lobsters act as broodstock for the inshore trap fishery. Maine lobstermen have worked diligently to sustain the lobster stock over multiple generations. This bill would have unfairly undermined their efforts. Lobstermen came out in force to testify and lobby against “dragging” and were successful in changing the course of this bill. The bill was defeated with strong bipartisan opposition. It was a great grassroots victory for the newly formed Maine Lobstering Union (IMLU 207).

What happened?

Defeated

Votes