I am writing as a member of a Maine fishing family.  Part or all of my family’s income relies on Maine’s fishing and seafood industry, and I support amending Maine’s bycatch lobster landing law.

The prohibition on landing bycatch lobsters in Maine makes it much harder for Maine fishermen to support their families in an already tough trade. Many Maine fishermen are unable to continue fishing from Maine ports, as well as being forced to lease and/or purchase additional fishing rights just to survive. In many cases, the investments to obtain the fishing rights require additional mortgages on vessels, property, and homes.

Many Maine vessels feel cornered by Maine’s bycatch lobster law. Some feel forced to offload out of state, others would like to, but are simply too small of an operation to travel to a port outside of Maine.

It is my belief that the State and the Legislature should do all they can to keep the fish, and the fishermen in their home ports in Maine. Amending the lobster law is a very important step in seeing that Maine returns to having a fair and successful fishing industry.

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Sincerely,

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