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Selectmen say NOAA rule could threaten inshore lobster fishery; Town Manager coordinates comments
Summary
Town Manager Billings told Selectmen she filed comments and is coordinating with neighboring towns and lobstermen over a NOAA proposal to reduce end lines over ten years, which officials warned could harm inshore lobster operations; federal comment deadlines were noted.
Town Manager Billings told selectmen the town has filed comments with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on a proposed 10-year plan to reduce end lines, a measure officials and lobstermen warn could significantly affect the inshore lobster fishery.
Billings said she circulated materials from the Maine Lobstermen’s Association and coordinated with managers from neighboring Vinalhaven and North Haven; she also reported outreach to the congressional delegation and the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries. She urged the board to be aware of two upcoming federal deadlines: biological-opinion comments due Feb. 24 and the 10-year plan comment period closing March 1.
Selectmen discussed the potential economic and social impacts on island communities that rely on the inshore lobster fishery. TM Billings said she was not optimistic that the rulemaking would be slowed by the delegation because a judge’s prior decision has limited options, but the town would continue to submit comments and work with regional partners.
The town’s communications with NOAA and regional organizations reflect a coordinated municipal response rather than formal rulemaking power; any local mitigation would require federal or state action. TM Billings said she would keep the board informed as agency responses and timelines evolve.
