I think with some good brainstorming the fisherman etc could figure out a way to inconvenience other professions etc-- all in the name of environmentalism and wildlife refuge.

Right whales have been spotted, photographed and identified very close to shore in our area, even this past summer. Many right whales that are left have scarring from rope entanglements. Whether or not sink rope will help has yet to be proven, but the regulation change is based in part due to near-shore whale sightings.

STOP YOUR CRYING

LIttle dog how can you have internet on only 18000?Does fairpoint take food stamps?

BIG DOG.......SHOVE IT where the sun don't shine!!!!!

this could be good news for boat owners. no tangled props . way to many pots out there to manuver around.

looks like they got their stimulus bailout checks. Unbelievable that the taxpayers have to support another proffession.

When are they going to stop holding their hands out. If a business is failing why does the taxpayer have to pay for it.

It doesn`t matter if it is mandated, and how long have they know it was coming.

So is ever taxpayer going to get a voucher for $1.40 of the pound price of lobster.

Kylie00 since i am sure that most lobstermen pay alot more in taxes that you do you are already getting your stimulus.I love it when morons run their mouths about stuff that they know nothing about.So shove a nother mcmuffin in your mouth sit back down on the couch jerry springer is almost on!

The government is slowly putting the last nail in the coffin of a once proud and independent industry. When are the people gong to wise up and stop electing this boobs from both parties to represent us?

We have welfare and food stamps also heating assistance. All forms of welfare hand outs

NOW WE HAVE ROPE WELFARE

WELFARE

WELFARE

Maybe it`s time for small business to get off the backs of the taxpayer and all the expected hand out

Wow, I can't believe how ignorant some people are...

Deerhunter, this has nothing to do with reducing traps in the water, its groundline (at the bottom) you can’t get it tangled with your wheel. And if you find it that hard to steer your boat around buoys than maybe you shouldn’t be operating a boat.

Kylie, it doesn’t matter how long we’ve known about it (which really hasn’t been that long). The fact is it’s unnecessary, and if we had changed our lines over sooner they would have only had more time to wear out costing us even more money. And it’s not a business that’s being helped here, it’s an entire industry. Plus it’s a far cry from a bailout! There paying giving us $1.40 voucher for rope that costs over 2.00 lb, and will have to be replaced every couple years. Its going to cost us way more in the long run with or without the voucher, all the voucher will due is ease the financial burden this first time we have to change our ropes. Do you even understand what really going on here? Cause it sure as hell doesn’t sound like it.

I'd like to see either one of you try to actually make a days pay working on a boat, it wouldn’t happen.

This is not an everyday staple people eat. Lobster is a food of choice and most americans choosing to buygroceries that will feed the entire family or a lobster will chose the family meal. Point being lobster is not a necesaty in life as real food, heat and shelter, so kylie your staement is actually an insult to welfare.

This is just a good old fashion abuse of the system.

the american people should be outraged

Why should this non-essential industry be subsidized by the american taxpayer

border this non-essential industry is one of the biggest in the state.I realize that its hard for for you to see how much it does for the state.Have to wonder what you do for a living.With your knowledge of the welfare system i can only guess.

I have never taken a handout from the state or feds. I have pride in what I am and do for a living.

Take your handouts and screw the american people over again

You have the perfect name because the american people are being bentover and screwed

ill say it again if the government mandates changes then they should pay for them what if they said all who drive cars must convert to a certain grade tire or face fines then what would you say think about it peace

border what do you do?

border, and you don['t think the fishermen are getting screwed over? why don't you take some time to think before you post. Fishing is already starting to fail under this current market, and it is one of maine's largest industries. If it fails, imagine what it will take down with it. This new legislation seems to have been another attempt to put the last nail into the coffin of the fishing industry, and these vouchers are the only thing that will help to keep it afloat (no pun intended) for a while longer.

screwed huh. just like all those factory ships scooping up all the herring and anything else they kill with it just to feed to the lobsters in the traps that most maine people can't afford anyways.

jealousy is a terrible thing.Deerhunter i have to assume that you are a deer hunter.How would you like it if the goverment told you that you had to use plastic bullets because the crows were eating the lead and getting sick?That makes the same amount of sense as what we are going through.With all the cigarettes and beer sold in the state i think that most people can afford a lobster once and a while.

This law is totally rediculos. The North Atlantic has MAYBE 300-400 Right Whales, just how many of these do you suppose end up being trapped/maimed by Maine lobstermen's lines? I would suspect that SHIPS injure/kill these whales a hell'va lot more than do ANY lobster trap lines, whether they be floating or on the bottom. It's about time our two senators AND the gov, realize that Maine's fishing industry is in worse shape because of assinine regulations/laws such as this one. Big Brother.......take a friggen break!!

Cheeky wrote:

"I think with some good brainstorming the fisherman etc could figure out a way to inconvenience other professions etc-- all in the name of environmentalism and wildlife refuge."

Yeah, like buffalo hunters. Oh, never mind.

Bendover you are paying for it thank you

Amanda

boo hoo boo hoo

At least you are polite bigdog.

Regardless of whether or not Right Whales are affected lobster men should be banned from using floating lines. I have frequently seen them in use both between toggle and float, and between toggle and trap, and they are a menace to navigation. When I pick up a floating warp on my prop 50 feet on the trap side of the toggle and have to dive in 50 degree water to cut the line free, I lose all sympathy for the poor working man. Suffice to say that solo diving is not the safest thing to do, and I can't afford to pay the $$ for a tow every time this happens. Even if you are extremely vigilant, you are very likely to pick up one or two lines on your prop a year. Even though they don't deserve it I always re-tie the line and save the trap. I wish the lobster men would show me the same kind of consideration and stop using this nuisance line.

another moron(islandman) commenting about something that he knows nothing about

Islandman, float rope already is banned at the surface. You can find that info atthe DMR's website. I dont belive anyone is running floatrope bettween there toggles and there mains on a regular basis, not only is it illegall it would be pointless. I think bendover is correct, you have no idea what your talking about.

I am well aware that it is already illegal. That does not mean it doesn't happen. I have pieces of float rope that I took off my prop to prove it, and yes, I do know the difference between rope types.

Pieces of float rope you took off your prop doesnt prove anything, theres plenty of loose rope floating around out on the ocean. And I'm not saying that it doesnt happen either, my point is most fisherman who know what there doing are not going to run float rope off of a toggle, its illegal and a hazard to them when there fishing. I dont know any fisherman who are going to risk getting fined for something as pointless as floatrope at the surface. They could be recreational traps, either way if you see that you should contact the DMR and actually get something done about it, rather than b-itchin about on here.

No more bailouts. No more handouts. I respect hardworking people. Lobstermen are certainly hardworking people. But I know and you know it is a "cash" business. If your industry goes away, use your hardworking talents to do something else.

Yes it is a cash business and they can hide most of what they make and still plead povety and some people believe them. Every lobster sold should have to have the fishermans liecense number attached to it.Then they would pay their fair share.

BigDog, It really all depends on how you sell your lobsters. over 90% of what i sell is being reported as income and landings to the state, becasue almost everything I sell goes to a licensed dealer and they are required to report how mcuh lobster they bought and who the fisherman was they bought from. The other 10%(its actually probobly less than that) is to people who want to buy from me right off the dock. Oh and the pounds pay you with a check not cash. So believe it or not we do pay our fair share.