The New England Fishery Management Council held a virtual meeting earlier this month where they voted in favor of regulations that protect both the scallop resource and northern New England day-boat scallop fishermen. MCCF and several other organizations submitted comments to the Council requesting support for regulations that ensure smaller boats from Maine will have preferential access to the scallop grounds in the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) federal scallop area. This is a bountiful area for scallops just beyond Maine state waters. Permit holders for this area, along with the general category boats, will have sole access to the first 800,000 pounds of each year’s allowable quota. This is a significant win for Maine boats participating in the NGOM fishery, given that recent stock assessments have set allowable catches in the range of 200,000 – 300,000 pounds! As the scallop stock replenishes in this part of federal waters, small boats homeported in Maine will not have to compete with the much larger and heavily capitalized individual fishing quota fleet when the inshore state scallop season closes in April. This ensures boats an opportunity to diversify their year’s fishing portfolio with a few extra months of scalloping until they switch to lobstering in June/July.

Commercial fisherman who experienced financial loss caused by seafood tariffs associated with the U.S. and China trade war are now eligible to apply for relief. Last month the Department of Agriculture announced the nationwide Seafood Trade Relief Program, “intended to compensate fishermen for loss resulting from retaliatory tariffs.” For Maine fishermen, the welcomed relief is based on a species-specific amount for every pound landed in 2019. That can mean anywhere from 4 cents per pound (herring) to 50 cents per pound (lobster) depending on the eligible species landed.

It is important to note that this assistance is only available for qualified fishermen who have a valid federal or state license to harvest seafood and sell their catch to a licensed seafood dealer. While payments will not need to be repaid and there is no cost to apply, the payment will be considered taxable income.

Fishermen have until the 14th of December to apply and can submit an application through their local USDA Service Center. To find your local service center, review the application paperwork, and view the rate list based on specific species, please visit the USDA website. For immediate assistance and to speak with someone from the USDA directly, please call 877.508.8364.