In this episode of Maine Coast Dock Talk, Ben Martens chat with Lulu Bates of the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) about the health and future of the northern shrimp fishery in Maine. Lulu is a marine biologist with DMR and brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation about where we are, the concerns fishermen have about the state of the science, and the reality facing all of us who love to catch or eat Maine shrimp.
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Northern Shimp History
The northern shrimp fishery has played a small but valuable role in New England’s economy for decades. This seasonal fishery, which peaks in late winter has been an important source of income for Maine fishermen. The fishery dates back to the late 1950s and saw an initial boom, with landings peaking at 28.3 million pounds in 1969. However, this success was short-lived, and the stock collapsed by 1978, prompting the fishery’s closure.
After reopening in 1979, the northern shrimp fishery experienced periods of stability through the 1980s and 1990s, with notable peaks in 1987 and 1996. By 2002, however, landings hit a low of just under a million pounds, the lowest levels since the 1978 closure. The following decade saw a modest recovery, with landings averaging 7.9 million pounds between 2003 and 2012. Yet, problems persisted. In 2010, the season was cut short after the industry exceeded its recommended catch of 13.5 million pounds, partly due to concerns about small shrimp catches. The shortened seasons continued, and stricter regulations were introduced in 2012, including limits on fishing gear, trip limits, and designated landing days.
The 2013 season, classified as a "do no harm" fishery, highlighted the challenges facing the northern shrimp industry. Even though only 49% of the total allowable catch (TAC) was harvested, the fishing mortality rate still exceeded the target. This, combined with ongoing stock decline, led to the imposition of a fishery moratorium in 2014, which continues to this day.
Despite not allowing any fishing for 10 years, according to the 2021 Stock Assessment Update, the population in the Gulf of Maine remains severely depleted. Spawning stock biomass (SSB) is at critically low levels, with the 2021 estimate of 887 metric tons far below historical norms. Recruitment, or the introduction of new shrimp into the population, has also been alarmingly low. The year classes of 2016, 2018, and 2020 are among the weakest ever recorded. This has promoted the reallocation of resources to that there are no dedicated shrimp research surveys taking place.
One of the key factors affecting northern shrimp recruitment is the ocean temperature. Recruitment tends to be stronger when spawning stock biomass is high, and water temperatures are cooler. However, ocean temperatures in the western Gulf of Maine have been steadily rising over the past two decades and have reached unprecedented highs in the last ten years.
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