Elver fishing has turned into a big-money game in Maine over the past few years, and the state’s Department of Marine Resources is tasked with overseeing an industry that has become much more complicated and controversial.
The DMR has announced that it will hold a meeting to seek stakeholder input on a plan that would reduce the elver harvest by 25 to 40 percent for the 2014 season. The meeting was originally scheduled for Dec. 9, but will now be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 2 at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer.
According to a DMR press release, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has postponed action on elvers until its 2014 spring meeting as it seeks to update statistics on elver landings and develops options for the 2015 season.
In the interim, the DMR has agreed to reduce the state’s harvest for the upcoming season.