Maine Eyes Small Changes To Annual Urchin Harvest

PORTLAND, Maine - Maine fishing regulators are considering some small changes to the rules that govern the state's fishery for sea urchins.Urchins are harvested in coastal Maine for use as food. The roe of urchins is commonly used in Japanese dishes. The Maine Department of Marine Resources says it's considering reducing the daily tote limits along the state's southern coast.
The marine department says the state's considering options that would allow for a deeper limit cut and more fishing opportunity days. It's also considering less of a cut and keeping the opportunity days the same.There could also be a slight limit reduction along the northern coast. The state's holding public hearings on the changes in June. They'd apply to the 2019-20 fishing season. Maine urchins were worth more than $6 million last year.