An uptick in people recreationally fishing for squid along Searsport’s town wharf has resulted in more of the invertebrates’ black ink spilling out and staining docks and private boats.
That has bothered local officials, who say that there has been more squid fishing happening late at night, during the window from midnight to 4 a.m. when the wharf area is supposed to be closed to the public.
Their frustration boiled up Sunday morning, when Deputy Harbor Master Travis Otis wrote on an official Facebook page: “Congratulations fishing has been eliminated from the wharf in Searsport.” But later, on Monday afternoon, Town Manager James Gillway clarified that the town is not putting a stop to fishing, although it may more strictly enforce the limits.
A small crowd of fishermen was also gathered at the Searsport town wharf on Monday afternoon, and most of them seemed unfazed by Otis’ dictum.
“The harbor master doesn’t have the authority to get rid of fishing operations by himself,” said one man, who was on his way out after bringing in a sizable haul of squid. “It goes to a town vote.”
Other fishermen on the dock were also using rods to haul in the small tentacled mollusks. One of them noted that some others leave copious amounts of trash on the pier, probably contributing to the frustration of local officials, but that he does his best to clean up whatever is left behind.
The tensions may be indirectly related to climate change, as warming waters have been forcing squid — especially longfin squid, which can grow up to two feet long — further into Maine waters over the last decade. Often called calamari, fishermen and cooks prize them for their sweet and mild flavor, although their growing numbers may have contributed to the collapse of Maine’s shrimp fishery.
There has been an apparent surplus of squid in Penobscot Bay this year, Gillway said, which is contributing to the growing nuisances from people who fish for them.
Gillway explained that at night, people aren’t as careful when fishing for squid. They bring them straight up from the water without allowing the squid to disperse ink before reaching the dock, meaning it could leave stains on docks and private vessels that may need to be repainted.
Four vessels were stained between Sunday night and Monday afternoon, according to Gillway and Otis. And there have been other problems as well, including nighttime fishermen using specific areas of the dock that are off-limits because they are reserved for private vessels.
Now, officials are threatening to start strictly enforcing the late night closure of the dock area to the public, by sending more police to patrol there, roping off areas and posting more signs.
“If we don’t see some improvement this week, we will shut down night operations,” Gillway said. “Our nuclear option, if you will, is to enforce the curfew. You’re not supposed to be on this dock from midnight until 4 a.m., but the harbor master, over the years, has allowed people, because recreational fishing, everybody enjoys it, and we don’t want to stop that. ”
Gillway encouraged fishermen to properly deal with squid as they’re harvested, allowing their ink to be expelled before reeling them to the dock to avoid further staining.
Other communities around Searsport don’t allow any fishing on their docks, according to Gillway. Belfast, for example, does not allow it on municipal waterfront.
“It’s not like we’re doing something special,” Gillway said. “We’re just trying to get a better handle on it. We have to do better.”
