COMPLETED US Maine blue mussel - dredge/rake

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Overview

What is a Completed FIP?

Completed FIPs are those that have independent verification that they have achieved their environmental objectives and/or graduated to MSC full assessment or other program assessment. Completed FIPs no longer report on their environmental performance but may choose to voluntarily report on their social performance.

Date of Completion: Sep 2022

Explanation of Completion: The FIP has succeeded in achieving its objectives. Please refer to the following actions in the Actions Progress tab for evidence — Conduct research on mussel beds, Determine fishery-specific objectives, and Determine key components of mussel management. The FIP updated one of its objectives from "Management improves to ensure long-term sustainability of the mussel fishery and access for local harvesters " to "Working group members determine there is a need for better long-term management and a request for a fishery management plan process is submitted to the state agency.", which was achieved in March 2022.

This FIP is focused on the wild harvest of mussels in the state of Maine (USA). The goals of this project are to establish and increase collection of stock status data, and to determine objectives and key components for a management plan. This is a fishery that occurs in state waters, and is managed by the Department of Marine Resources in Maine. There are both wild and farmed mussel industries in Maine – this FIP is focused on the wild fishery, which includes harvesters targeting adult mussels to be sold into the marketplace directly, and harvesters targeting seed mussels to transplant to bottom aquaculture leases for farming purposes. Most of the fishery is executed with drag gear, and there is a small amount of hand raking that occurs. The work group includes members from both the wild and bottom aquaculture industries, in addition to processors, distributors, and a major retailer, who are all committed to the long-term sustainability of this fishery in Maine.

FIP Description 

This FIP is focused on the wild harvest of mussels in the state of Maine (USA). The goals of this project are to establish and increase collection of stock status data, and to determine objectives and key components for a management plan.

FIP Objective(s) 

Our primary goals for this FIP are:

  • Baseline stock status data is collected and a mechanism is established for maintaining data collection into the future (target date to accomplish this goal: December 2022).
  • Working group members determine there is a need for better long-term management and a request for a fishery management plan process is submitted to the state agency.
FIP Type 
Basic
FIP Stage 
Stage 4: Improvements in Fishing Practices or Fishery Management
Start and Projected End Dates
January 2018
December 2022
Update 
-Our project has been delayed due to the pandemic over the past year. We've included an updated version of our workplan to reflect the changed dates. -Our project has been delayed due to the pandemic over the past two years. For the second time, we've included an updated version of our workplan to reflect the changed end date (March 2022 update).
Species 
Common Name 
Blue Mussels
Scientific Name
Mytilus edulis
Buying Guide Link Image 
Blue Mussels
Buying Guide
Gear Type 
Dredge
Rake
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 21 (Atlantic, Northwest)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
United States of America (the)
Geographic Scope 
Maine state waters
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
4,140 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
4,140 metric tons
Landings Date 
March 2021
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
January 01, 2018
18% 14% 50% 18%
Progress Rating (A) Advanced Progress

Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

(B) Good Progress

A basic FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within 12 months.

(C) Some Recent Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has reported a Stage 3 activity within the first 12 months.
(D) Some Past Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months BUT has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old AND a Stage 3 activity has been reported within six months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
(E) Negligible Progress
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old, with no Stage 3 activity reported in the last six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months with no Stage 3 activity reported within 12 months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF
Not yet available
Actions Complete

This pie chart represents completed environmental actions. Non-completed environmental actions may contain completed sub-tasks that are not illustrated here. For more information on environmental action progress visit the Actions Progress tab.
  • Complete
  • Incomplete
Target End Date
Dec 2022

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Kyle Foley
Email 
kfoley@gmri.org
Phone 
207-228-1670
Website Name 
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
8460