Page updated on 11/29/07
 

Downeast Fishing Initiative
A Pilot Area Management Plan Program for Groundfish in Eastern Maine
 

     This is a proposal for a science-based fishery that treats the groundfish resource in Federal waters off eastern Maine as a multi-species, or ecosystem resource.  The proposal is motivated by a desire to conserve our fisheries resources and is intended as a way to provide the people and communities of coastal Maine with continuing access to the fisheries resources of the Gulf.  The pilot program will establish a restrictive fishing area.  The fishery will rely upon new local governance institutions designed to assure local access and a strong sense of stewardship.  The area covered by the proposal is the region associated with the Eastern Maine Coastal Current – basically statistical areas 511 and 512.  This area contains spawning and nursery grounds for the groundfish that inhabit Downeast waters.

Host:  Clare Grindal, Downeast Lobstermen’s Assn. & Jim Wilson, University of Maine