Maine Department of Marine Resources seeks pogey harvesters’ input – Penobscot Bay Press

Report on Maine’s 2026 Menhaden Fishery Management and Sustainable Development Goals

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is proactively addressing a significant reduction in the Atlantic menhaden (pogey) allocation for the 2026 fishing season. This report details the management measures, economic impacts, and stakeholder engagement efforts, contextualized within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Fishery Allocation and Economic Implications (SDG 8 & SDG 12)

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has mandated a coast-wide reduction for the 2026 menhaden season, resulting in a 17 percent, or five-million-pound, reduction for Maine’s harvesters compared to 2025 levels. This measure, while aimed at ensuring responsible production and consumption patterns (SDG 12), presents considerable economic challenges for the state’s blue economy, impacting decent work and economic growth (SDG 8).

• 2026 Preliminary Allocation: 19,571,649 pounds
• Episodic Set Aside (ESA): 4,119,117 pounds
• Projected Economic Impact: Based on 2024 landing values where the catch was worth $13.2 million, the five-million-pound reduction could result in a revenue loss exceeding $2.5 million for menhaden harvesters.
• Secondary Economic Impact: The reduced allocation is expected to increase the cost of bait for Maine’s vital lobster industry, compounding existing economic pressures from rising operational costs.

Conservation Measures and Marine Ecosystem Health (SDG 14)

The ASMFC’s decision to reduce the coast-wide allocation is a direct action toward achieving SDG 14 (Life Below Water). By regulating harvest levels, the commission aims to prevent overfishing and ensure the long-term sustainability of the menhaden stock, which is a critical forage species for the broader Atlantic marine ecosystem. This management strategy is fundamental to conserving and sustainably using marine resources.

The establishment of an Episodic Set Aside (ESA) provides a flexible management tool. It allows states to access a shared reserve quota after their individual allocation is met, but only if large schools of menhaden are still present in their waters. This mechanism helps balance harvesting opportunities with the overarching conservation objectives of SDG 14.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaborative Governance (SDG 17)

In alignment with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the Maine DMR has scheduled a virtual meeting on December 11 to foster a collaborative approach to managing the reduced quota. The meeting is designed to engage directly with the commercial harvesters who are most affected by the new regulations.

1. To solicit direct input and expertise from commercial menhaden harvesters.
2. To collaboratively develop management regulations for the 2026 season.
3. To strategize methods for distributing the reduced quota over time to support consistent access to bait for the state’s lobster industry.

This initiative, as articulated by DMR Commissioner Carl Wilson, underscores a commitment to working with industry partners. The goal is to create a regulatory framework that mitigates the economic impact on Maine’s fishing communities while upholding the principles of sustainable resource management central to the Sustainable Development Goals.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire text focuses on the management of a marine resource, the Atlantic menhaden (pogies), within Maine’s coastal waters. It discusses catch allocations, the economic value of the fishery, and regulatory actions by bodies like the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and Maine’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to manage the fish stock. The core issue is the sustainable use of marine resources, which is the central theme of SDG 14.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article directly connects the management of the menhaden fishery to the economic well-being of local communities. It highlights that menhaden are a “valuable part of the state’s fisheries economy” and quantifies the economic impact of the reduced catch, stating that “Maine’s pogey fisherman stand to see the value of their catch in 2026 lowered by more than $2.5 million dollars.” This directly relates to the economic growth and livelihoods of those employed in the fishing industry, a key aspect of SDG 8.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article illustrates a multi-stakeholder approach to resource management. It describes the interaction between a regional body (the ASMFC), a state government agency (the DMR), and the industry itself (“commercial menhaden harvesters”). The DMR’s decision to hold an “online meeting to solicit input from commercial menhaden harvesters” is a clear example of building partnerships between public institutions and the private/civil sector to create effective policy, which is a core principle of SDG 17.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing… and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible…

     Explanation: The article is a direct example of this target in action. The ASMFC’s decision to implement a “coast wide reduction of 20 percent” and the DMR’s subsequent work to “develop management measures” are forms of regulating harvesting. These actions are intended to manage the fish stock sustainably, which aligns with the goal of maintaining fish stocks at healthy levels.

   • Target 14.b: Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.

     Explanation: The article emphasizes the importance of menhaden as the “principal bait used by Maine lobstermen.” The DMR’s stated goal to “develop regulations that spread this quota out over time to support access to bait for our lobster industry” directly addresses the need to ensure that small-scale fishers (lobstermen) have continued access to a critical marine resource necessary for their livelihood.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity… including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.

     Explanation: The article discusses the economic productivity of the menhaden fishery, a key sector in Maine’s “blue economy.” It provides specific data on its value: “in 2024, Maine’s pogey harvesters landed 25,638,230 pounds, with the catch worth $13.2 million.” The concern over the “major impact on menhaden harvesters” due to a potential $2.5 million loss in value directly relates to maintaining the economic productivity and viability of this labor-intensive sector.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…

     Explanation: The governance structure described in the article exemplifies this target. The process involves a public regional commission (ASMFC), a public state department (DMR), and the industry (“pogey fishermen”). The DMR’s specific action of scheduling an “online meeting to solicit input from commercial menhaden harvesters” is a direct implementation of a public-private partnership to ensure collaborative and effective resource management.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Indicator (Implied from 14.4.1 – Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels): The decision by the ASMFC to reduce the total allocation implies an assessment of the menhaden fish stock. The reduction itself is a management action based on this assessment, serving as an indirect indicator of efforts to keep the stock at sustainable levels.
   • Indicator (Mentioned): Total allowable catch or allocation quotas. The article provides precise figures for these quotas, such as the “preliminary allocation for the coming season is 19,571,649 pounds” and the “five million pound reduction.” These quotas are direct, measurable indicators of fishery management.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Indicator (Mentioned): Value of landings from the fishery. The article explicitly states the economic value of the 2024 catch was “$13.2 million” and the average price was “51 cents per pound.” It also projects a potential loss of “more than $2.5 million dollars.” These monetary values are direct indicators used to measure the economic contribution and health of the fishery sector.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Indicator (Mentioned): Number and nature of stakeholder consultations. The article provides a specific example that can be used as an indicator: “an online meeting is scheduled for December 11” for the express purpose of soliciting “input from commercial menhaden harvesters.” This is a measurable action demonstrating a commitment to partnership and stakeholder engagement.

Source: penobscotbaypress.com