AUGUSTA — Maine fishing regulators are putting emergency restrictions on certain kinds of fishing nets to make sure the state doesn’t exceed catch limits on baby eels.

State Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher says elver fishermen are prohibited from using fyke nets other than those that are used in commercial fishing and subject to daily reporting requirements. Fyke nets are bag-like nets held open by hoops, and they can catch significantly more elvers than typical dipnets.

Keliher says the state is issuing the rule based on information from the Passamaquoddy American Indian tribe that it is issuing “sustenance licenses” that allow fyke net use. He says the tribe lacks a way to accurately track the catch of sustenance license holders.

Passamaquoddy leaders did not immediately return calls and emails seeking comment.


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