Maine DMR to hold coastwide lobster meetings in March

HALLOWELL, ME – Over the last year, Pat Keliher, commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources (DMR), has held many meetings with the lobster industry on a range of issues as part of his commitment to bring information to the industry and have a dialogue about potential changes.

That process will continue in March when Keliher convenes a new round of meetings to review the 2013 Lobster Settlement Survey and other scientific monitoring. Those sessions will set the stage for the development of a state fishery management plan for the lobster fishery.

The DMR has scheduled 10 meetings in locations all along the coast (at right). The kickoff session was planned for the Maine Fishermen’s Forum on March 1 at 9am in the Rockport Room at the Samoset Resort.

Dates, times, and locations of the regional meetings will be sent by e-mail to industry members and posted on the DMR website at <www.maine.gov/dmr>. Check the website in advance of attending a meeting to confirm locations and for cancellation notices. Or contact DMR Resource Coordinator Sarah Cotnoir at (207) 624-6596 or e-mail <sarah.cotnoir@maine.gov>. /cfn/

Town	Meeting Location	Date
Rockport	Kickoff Meeting, Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Rockport Room, Samoset	Sat., March 1 9am – 12pm
Waldoboro	Waldoboro Municipal Building (EMS Bays) 1600 Atlantic Highway	March 11 5pm – 7pm
York	York Village Fire Department One Firehouse Dr.	March 13 10am – 12pm
Scarborough	(Location to be determined –please refer to the DMR website)	March 13 3pm – 5pm
Vinalhaven	Vinalhaven School Auditorium	March 14 10am – 12pm
Deer Isle	Deer Isle-Stonington High School Cafeteria 251 N Deer Isle Rd.	March 25 3 pm – 5 pm
Bath	Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington St.	March 28 10am – 12pm
Yarmouth	Yarmouth Town Hall, Community Room 200 Main St.	March 28 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Machias	UMaine Machias, Science Bldg., Room 102 116 O’Brien Ave.	March 31 11am – 1pm
Milbridge	Milbridge Elementary School Gym 39 Washington Street	March 31 4pm – 6pm
Northeast Harbor	The Neighborhood House 1 Kimball Rd.	April 11 1am – 1pm