MAINE PUBLIC • February 1, 2022
Lawmakers on the Maine Legislature's Marine Resources Committee have fast-tracked a bill that will allow lobstermen to haul traps during the predawn hours in the month of September. The proposal is one of several under consideration to provide relief to the industry. Maine has traditionally prohibited lobstering until a half hour before sunrise and a half hour after sunset. Five years ago the Legislature upended that policy in the month of October, allowing trap hauling to begin at 4 a.m. The bill unanimously approved by the Marine Resources Committee on Tuesday extends that same start time to September, a move that will give lobstermen a 90-minute jumpstart at the beginning of the month and a two-hour one at the end of the month, compared to what they have now.