13-188 DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES

1. Chapter 45: SHRIMP
   1. 45.01 Definitions
      1. A. Cod end. "Cod end" means the terminal portion of an otter trawl, pair trawl, beam trawl, scottish seine or mid-water trawl in which the catch is normally retained.
      2. B. Primary dealer. "Primary dealer" means any person who purchases shrimp in excess of 120 pounds per day as a first purchase from a vessel engaged in the taking of shrimp.
      3. C. Process. "Process" means to clean, shell, freeze, package or otherwise alter the form or condition of shrimp.
      4. D. Shrimp. "Shrimp", "any shrimp" of "Northern Shrimp" means all Pandalid species including, but not limited to, Pandalus borealis.
      5. E. Extension. That portion of the net which connects the cod end to the body of the net.
      6. F. Landing. To come to shore, float or a dock and offload shrimp; or to transfer shrimp at sea to another vessel.
   2. 45.05 Shrimp season
   3. 1. Shrimp Season
   4. A. Harvest and transport
   5. (1) Season

      There is no season for shrimp.

      1. It is unlawful to fish for, or take by any method, or to land, ship, transport, sell or possess any shrimp harvested from Maine’s coastal waters.
         1. (2) Exception

            Any shrimp may be possessed, transported or sold during the closed periods or seasons by dealers provided the shrimp were legally obtained and the dealer is properly permitted or licensed to engage in that activity.

2. B. Processing

It shall be unlawful to process shrimp in Maine except during the fishing season established in Chapter 45.05(1)(A)(1).

1. (1) Exception
   1. A processor may process shrimp outside of the fishing season established in Chapter 45.05(1)(A)(1) upon obtaining a permit from the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
2. (2) Documentation
   1. The Department of Marine Resources shall issue a permit to a shrimp processor for processing of shrimp outside of the fishing season established in Chapter 45.05(1)(A)(1) if that processor produces documented evidence proving that the shrimp to be processed were lawfully harvested.
   2. 45.10 Net restrictions
   3. A. Mesh size
      1. 1. It shall be unlawful to fish for, take, transport or possess any shrimp on board any vessel rigged with a trawl net having a mesh opening of less than 1 3/4 inches between knots. It shall also be unlawful to possess a net or netting with an opening of less than 1 3/4 inches between knots on board any vessel rigged with a trawl net which is engaged in the fishing for, taking, or transport of shrimp or which carries shrimp for any purpose, except that the webbing funnel may be constructed with a mesh size not less than 1 3/8 inches. Additionally, an exception is made for a deflector panel of 1-inch mesh in the cod end behind the second grate in a double grate system, as described in Chapter 45.10(F).
      2. 2. EXCEPTION for Maine Territorial Seas: Pursuant to Department of Marine Resources' Regulation 34.10(1)(C)(1) and (2), any vessel rigged with a trawl net having a mesh size of less than 6 inches diamond or square mesh in the body and wings and less than 6.5 inches diamond or square mesh in the cod end may only fish in Maine territorial waters January 1 to March 31, both days inclusive.
      3. 3. Finfish Excluder Device. It shall be unlawful for any vessel rigged for otter trawling, to fish for, land or have in possession northern shrimp except by using trawls equipped with finfish excluder devices. Such finfish excluder devices (commonly referred to as the "Nordmore Grate System") shall consist of:
         1. a. The grate is a rigid or semi-rigid planar device consisting of parallel bars attached to a frame with a spacing between bars of not more than 1 inch. The parallel bars of the grate shall be oriented up and down and the grate itself shall be tilted at approximately a forty-five degree angle from the vertical plane. The frame of the grate shall be secured to the extension piece of the trawl net in such a manner that prevents the passage of fish between the frame of the grate and the webbing of the extension into the cod end.
         2. b. The fish outlet is a triangular opening in the webbing of the extension of the trawl. This outlet may be located on the top or bottom of the extension which allows the escape of fish too large to pass between the bars of the grate. The triangular base of the fish outlet is aligned with the apex of the opening forward and is attached to the portion of the tilted grate closest to the cod end so that no lip or protruding edge of webbing is present to impede the escape of finfish. The base of the triangular opening shall not be less than 19 inches in length. The sides of the triangular outlet shall taper to a forward (toward the mouth of the trawl) apex and shall be cut "all bars" to achieve the triangular shaped opening.
         3. c. The webbing funnel shall be constructed of webbing or mesh not less than 1 3/8 inches and shall be located in the extension in front of the grate. The circumference of the extension and the outlet of the funnel shall be of sufficient diameter to allow the passage of fish captured by the trawl. The funnel shall be secured in the extension in such a manner that the funnel mouth will be directed to the part of the grate furthest from the fish outlet to maximize the separation characteristics of the grate. However, this webbing funnel is not mandatory.
      4. 4. The maximum length of the bottom legs of the bridle of any shrimp trawl net shall not exceed 15 fathoms of uncovered or bare wire.

         Exception. No person may possess any regulated species of cod, witch flounder, American plaice, Atlantic halibut, yellowtail flounder, haddock, pollock, winter flounder, windowpane flounder, redfish, ocean pout and white hake on board any vessel while fishing for shrimp.

      5. 5. Mesh measurement. Mesh sizes are to be measured by a flat wedged-shaped gauge having a taper of 4 cm. in 20 cm. and having a thickness of 2.3 mm., inserted into the meshes under a pressure or pull of 1.90 kg. The mesh size of a net shall be the average of the measurements of a series of any 20 consecutive meshes, at least 10 meshes from the lacing, and when measured in the cod end of the net beginning at the after end and running parallel to the long end axis.
   4. B. Chafing gear and liner

      It shall be unlawful to fish for, take, transport or possess any shrimp on board a boat rigged with a trawl net of more than one layer or with a liner of any kind attached, except that a cod end strengthener may be used as specified in Chapter 45.10(E). However, it shall be lawful to attach chafing gear to the lower half of the circumference of the cod end unless a cod end strengthener is used. Any such chafing gear shall be attached in such a manner as to ensure that the effective mesh opening in the cod end is not diminished.

   5. C. Tolerance in mesh measurement

      A tolerance of 1/8 inch may be applied to the average mesh size in the body and wings of a net. No tolerance shall be provided for any other portion of the net.

   6. D. Exception

      It shall be lawful to possess herring seines or purse seines for the purpose of transporting those seines from one location to another on board a vessel rigged for otter trawling, as described in 45.10 (A) as long as a permit is obtained in advance from the Maine Department of Marine Resources.

E. Cod End Strengthener

1. An outer mesh may be used as a cod end strengthener while fishing for Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis). The outer mesh must be a minimum of 6.5 inches and the outer mesh must be at least three times larger than the size of the inner mesh. The mesh may be single or double twine, and diamond or square in shape. The hanging ratio must be the same as the mesh size ratio. Hanging ratio shall mean the number of meshes in the circumference of the cod end compared to the number of meshes in the circumference of the strengthener. The mesh size ratio shall mean the number of inner meshes compared to the number of outer meshes. The outer mesh may only cover the cod end. No chafing gear may be used with a cod end strengthener.

F. Double Nordmore Grate

1. A double Nordmore grate may be used while fishing for Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis). A double Nordmore grate is a second grate placed behind the currently required grate. The second grate is intended to release small shrimp from the net while retaining larger shrimp. Double Nordmore grate devices shall have the following gear components:
   1. (1) A second grate that is placed 8 feet behind the first grate with a locational tolerance of plus or minus 2 feet, i.e., must be greater than 6 feet and less than 10 feet.
      1. (2) A second grate that is hung at the same orientation as the first grate.
      2. (3) A space between the bars that is 7/16 or an inch.
      3. (4) An exit hole to the cod end that is placed at the trailing end of the second grate and is not more than 10 percent of the surface area.
      4. (5) A 1-inch mesh panel behind the second grate that is 45 degrees down from the top of the bars to the bottom of the cod end.
      5. (6) An escape hole in the cod end in front of the 1-inch mesh panel.
      6. (7) Optional: A funnel that is placed in front of the second grate designed to direct the catch toward the grate to maximize the retention of the shrimp may be used but may not have mesh less than 1-3/8 inch stretched mesh.

45.15 Shrimp traps

1. Marking. It is unlawful to set, raise, life or transfer any shrimp trap or buoy unless it is clearly marked with the owher’s shrimp fishing license number or lobster and crab fishing license number.

45.24 Reporting of catch; See Chapter 8.20(l) Landings Program

EFFECTIVE DATE:

December 15, 1982

1. AMENDED:

May 9, 1987

December 28, 1987

November 27, 1988

December 1, 1989 - Section 45.10 (EMERGENCY)

March 26, 1990 - Section 45.10

December 2, 1990

April 3, 1991 - Section 45.10

April 13, 1991 - Section 45.24 (Repealed) and Section 45.50

November 29, 1991 (EMERGENCY)

April 1, 1992

December 9, 1992 - Section 45.05 & 45.10

December 8, 1993 (EMERGENCY)

May 30, 1994

December 1, 1994 - Sections 45.05, 45.10 (EMERGENCY)

December 19, 1994 - Section 45.05 (EMERGENCY)

November 24, 1995 - (EMERGENCY)

April 2, 1995 - Sections 45.05, 45.10

March 5, 1996

November 30, 1996 – Section 45.05 (EMERGENCY)

February 17, 1997 – Section 45.05

March 9, 1997 - Section 45.10(A)(3)

EFFECTIVE DATE (ELECTRONIC CONVERSION):

February 24, 1997

NON-SUBSTANTIVE CORRECTION:

June 25, 1997

AMENDED:

December 1, 1997 - Section 45.05 (EMERGENCY)

January 28, 1998 - Section 45.05

December 1, 1998 - Section 45.05 (EMERGENCY)

January 31, 1999 - Section 45.05

December 1, 1999 - Sections 45.05 and 45.10 (EMERGENCY)

December 25, 1999 - Section 45.24 added

NON-SUBSTANTIVE CORRECTIONS:

December 30, 1999 - minor spelling and punctuation

AMENDED:

January 17, 2000 - Sections 45.05 and 45.10, calendar appended

December 1, 2000 - Section 45.05(A) (EMERGENCY)

December 24, 2000 - Section 45.05(A)

NON-SUBSTANTIVE CORRECTIONS:

February 14, 2001 - punctuation

AMENDED:

November 25, 2001 - Section 45.05(1)(A)(2)(c)

December 1, 2001 - Section 45.05(A)(2) (EMERGENCY)

February 9, 2002 - Title for Section 45.05(1); Sections 45.05(1)(A)(2) and 45.10(A)(2)

November 27, 2002 - Section 45.05, filing 2002-452 (EMERGENCY)

January 21, 2003 - Section 45.05(1) - filing 2003-26

1. NON-SUBSTANTIVE CORRECTIONS:

May 21, 2003 - history notes for November 27, 2002 and January 21, 2003

1. AMENDED:

September 16, 2003 - filing 2003-324

1. NON-SUBSTANTIVE CORRECTIONS:

November 5, 2003

1. AMENDED:

November 26, 2003 - Section 45.05(1), filing 2003-440 (EMERGENCY)

December 17, 2003 - Section 45.24, filing 2003-467

January 26, 2004 - Section 45.05(1), filing 2004-22

November 17, 2004 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2004-536 (EMERGENCY)

January 25, 2005 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2)(i), filing 2005-40

NON-SUBSTANTIVE CORRECTIONS:

May 3, 2005 – history notes only

May 3, 2005 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2)(a)(i), numbering only; and history notes

AMENDED:

November 23, 2005 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2) (EMERGENCY), filing 2005-472

January 23, 2006 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2006-26

NON-SUBSTANTIVE CORRECTIONS:

May 16, 2006 – removed duplicate, incorrect date in 45.05(1)(A)(2)(a)

AMENDED:

November 22, 2006 - Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2006-480 (EMERGENCY)

January 24, 2007 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2007-20

November 28, 2007 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2007-496 (EMERGENCY)

January 27, 2008 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2008-18

CORRECTION:

February 25, 2008 – typo in 45.05(1)(A), season length corrected to 151 days

AMENDED:

September 23, 2008 – Section 45.15 added, filing 2008-444

November 26, 2008 – Section 45.05, filing 2008-539 (EMERGENCY)

February 16, 2009 – Section 45.05, filing 2009-52

November 11, 2009 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2009-579 (EMERGENCY)

December 21, 2009 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2009-665

May 5, 2010 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2010-164 (EMERGENCY)

November 17, 2010 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2010-577 (EMERGENCY)

January 8, 2011 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2011-2

February 28, 2011 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2011-55 (EMERGENCY)

January 2, 2012 – Section 45.05(1)(A)(2), filing 2011-470 (EMERGENCY)

January 16, 2013 – Section 45.01(E), 45.05, filing 2013-009 (EMERGENCY)

April 16, 2013 – Section 45.01(E), 45.05(1)(A), filing 2013-085

March 20, 2015 – Section 45.05, filing 2015-047 (EMERGENCY)

December 11, 2015 – Section 45.05(1), filing 2015-247 (EMERGENCY)

March 7, 2016 – Section 45.05(1), filing 2016-034

APAO WORD VERSION CONVERSION (IF NEEDED) AND ACCESSIBILITY CHECK: July 17, 2025