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August 18th, 2025 | EDITION #7 | 207-633-9414 | [email protected]

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Industry Spotlight

 Nestled along the scenic coastline of Wells, Maine, the Wells Harbor Shellfish Lab opened its doors in the summer of 2022 at 362 Harbor Road. Since its inception, the lab has become a hub for marine restoration, public education, and community engagement.

 To learn more about the lab’s mission and operations, we spoke with Rachel, the dedicated lab technician who oversees the site. She explained that the lab’s primary goals are to revitalize the local shellfish industry, restore the surrounding ecosystem, and foster public awareness of Maine’s coastal biodiversity.

 At the heart of the lab’s work is the cultivation of softshell clams, which are grown and then seeded into the nearby mudflats—an area long favored by local clam diggers. Rachel shared that the lab typically conducts seeding efforts in both the spring and fall, and early results have shown promising increases in clam populations. This initiative not only supports the ecological health of the harbor but also aims to improve future harvests for local diggers.

clam seed

 Beyond shellfish cultivation, the lab also serves as a public aquarium, showcasing a variety of native marine species in open tanks. Visitors can observe starfish, lobsters, crabs, and other tide pool inhabitants up close. Rachel noted that the lab has received several unique lobster specimens over the years and welcomes new donations to enrich the display.

 The aquarium is open to the public Thursday through Monday, from 9 AM to 4 PM. Guests are encouraged to drop in, explore the tanks, and ask questions about the marine life on display.



clam seeding tanks

Plans are also underway to expand the lab’s educational offerings with new viewing platforms along the nearby docks, enhancing the visitor experience.

 In addition to its ecological and educational efforts, the lab has supported local student lobstermen by providing a space for them to sell their catch directly to the public. Rachel explained that the lab promotes these sales through signage and social media, with all proceeds going to the students. This initiative not only offers financial support but also helps young lobstermen gain valuable experience interacting with customers.

 

shellfish lab

 The Wells Harbor Shellfish Lab continues to make meaningful contributions to marine conservation and education. If you have an interesting marine specimen to donate, or if you're a student lobsterman interested in participating in the sales program, you can reach out via the lab’s Facebook page at *Wells Harbor Shellfish Lab*, or contact Wells Harbormaster Michael Yorke at *207-646-3236*.






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Marine Mammal Research Update

whales tail

Since 2023, DMR has been conducting marine mammal research geared toward learning more about North Atlantic right whale presence in the Gulf of Maine. Research efforts include year-round passive acoustic monitoring, monthly visual surveys, and plankton sampling nearshore and offshore.



*Visual Survey Program*

survey info

Monthly systematic vessel surveys are conducted inside 25 nm from shore while aerial surveys cover up to 60 nm from Maine’s coast. Both surveys document all marine mammals but also record other species including turtles and large fish. No North Atlantic right whales have been sighted during systematic surveys in 2025, however DMR conducted three response surveys in January to the aggregation at Jeffery’s Ledge to document their presence and keep fishermen informed.



*Plankton Sampling*

plankton olive

Our brand-new plankton program is now up and running! By sampling monthly throughout the Gulf of Maine, DMR can amplify efforts to better understand distribution changes of the copepod "Calanus finmarchicus. "As an important food source for North Atlantic right whales, improved plankton data will allow for better predictions of their occurrence in the GOM.placeholder text.



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If you have questions or want to learn more, please visit our website or email [email protected].





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General Info

*"Need Assistance from the Landings Program?"*

Landings Program staff are available by phone: (207) 633-9414, or by email: [email protected] Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:00pm

*Appointments for in-person office assistance need to be scheduled with the Landings Program in advance*. Walk-ins are not accepted at this time. To schedule an in-person appointment, please contact Landings at (207) 633-9414 for a date & time. The Landings Program office is located at: "194 McKown Point Rd, West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575."

"*
Need Assistance from the Licensing Dept?*"

Licensing staff are available by phone:
(207) 624-6550 option 2, or by email: [email protected] Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:00pm. Harvesters *can visit the Licensing Dept. for
in-person help Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday.* Wednesday & Fridays are closed for in-person help; however, you can call or leave license applications in the drop-box outside. The Licensing Dept. office is located in the
"Marquardt Building at:
32 Blossom Ln, Augusta, ME 04330."






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Landings Program Updates

_Do you have pending VESL reports?_

* To determine if you have pending VESL reports, follow these steps [ [link removed] ] and look for any reports that say "PENDING".
* Click on the pending reports and try and to submit them. 
* If you have multiple fishing effort errors or are receiving any other type of error message, contact the Landings Program at (207) 633-9414.

pending reports

*_Do you have a new vessel?_*


* If you have acquired a new boat or obtained a new federal permit, please call Licensing (207-624-6550, option 2) to ensure the boat/permit is associated with your licenses.
* If you use VESL to report your landings, please contact Landings (207-633-9414) to update your boat in the app.

*Do you need to submit a request for Landings Data?*


* If you need access to landings data that has been submitted to the DMR for yourself, your business, or for research purposes you will need to complete this Landings Data Request Form [ [link removed] ] and follow the instructions for submitting a notarized data release form.
* If you report in VESL, you can click here [ [link removed] ] to view how to download a file of all VESL reports submitted. 
* If you have questions about how to complete the Landings Data Request Form, please contact the Landings Program at (207) 633-9414.





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Fishery Direct Data Pilot Program

The Fishery Direct Data (FDD) Pilot Program was started in 2025 in response to feedback from the lobster industry requesting more data collection on lobsters located in federal waters. To accomplish this, Maine DMR has partnered with the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) to train Maine lobstermen to collect catch, effort, and biological data on lobsters and Jonah crabs in federal waters.

 






lob measuring

Maine DMR is in the process of training 10 captains in 2025, (with at least one captain from each zone A-G), and an additional 10 captains in 2026 to collect data for the FDD Pilot Program. These captains will collect data from a selection of their commercial traps and from 3 ventless traps fished alongside their commercial gear at locations of their choice in federal water. To collect this data, captains are given digital calipers and a tablet with CFRF’s On Deck Data App that can record and then upload data to a shared database. Captains are also recording bottom temperature and water column temperature profiles using a Moana TD sensor located in one of their ventless traps. Captain Tommy Werner and his sternman are pictured here sampling lobsters using digital calipers and a tablet with the On Deck Data App.

 

The biological data collected by captains includes: carapace length, sex, shell hardness, shell disease presence and severity, egg presence and stage (for females), V-notch presence (for females) and kept/discard status. Other data collected includes information about the location, depth, and traps used to catch the lobsters and crabs.

 

Data collected by the FDD Pilot Program will be used to gain a more complete understanding of the offshore lobster population and to further investigate the size frequency distribution of lobsters living in deeper water. Maine DMR will also use data from this project to evaluate the feasibility of a more permanent expansion of lobster sampling efforts in federal waters. This effort is currently being funded by the Lobster Research, Education, and Development Fund.

 

If you fish at least a portion of your gear in federal waters year-round and are interested in participating in the FDD Pilot Program, please reach out:

 

*Peter Jordan*, "FDD Project Lead", (207) 350-6420, [email protected]

*Anna Dorrance*, "FDD Project Supervisor", (207) 350-6090, [email protected]



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FEDERAL REPORTING AND COMPLIANCE TIPS

As of April 1st 2024, *all* fishing activity occurring on a vessel with a federal permit must be reported via a federally-approved reporting option (VESL, NOAA FishOnline or eTrips). For example, if you hold a federal lobster permit and a state menhaden license, landings for*" both"* fisheries must be reported using a federally-approved reporting option. Below are three available electronic reporting options for federal harvesters. You can reference the table below to see what option fits best for you.

fedfol2
Click here [ [link removed] ] to log into your FOL account.
fol1FOL2
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"*Click the links below to see detailed instructions & additional reporting tips:*"






*Maine LEEDS:*

* How to Report Carred Landings [ [link removed] ]*NEW!*
*

Download Submitted Landings Reports [ [link removed] ]*NEW!*


* Creating a Did Not Fish Report  [ [link removed] ]
* How to View Compliance Status [ [link removed] ]
* Creating a Lobster Report [ [link removed] ]
* How to Set Reporting Favorites [ [link removed] ]
* Editing a Report in LEEDS [ [link removed] ]

*Click here [ [link removed] ] to view all LEEDS how-to manuals.




*VESL App:*

* How to Report Carred Landings [ [link removed] ]*NEW!*
* Creating a Did Not Fish Report [ [link removed] ]
* Download a Report of VESL Data [ [link removed] ]
* Creating a State Lobster Report [ [link removed] ]
* Creating a Federal Lobster Report [ [link removed] ]
* Editing a Report in VESL [ [link removed] ]

 

*Click here [ [link removed] ] to view all VESL how-to manuals.








 

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