BRUNSWICK

A winter closure for the New Meadows Lake area will help conserve the quahog population.

Earlier this month, the Department of Marine Resources voted to implement the measure. Brunswick Marine Warden Dan Devereaux said this is the first winter the fishery will be closed at New Meadows Lake, but added it has always been illegal to harvest the shellfish through the ice when the lake is frozen.

The closure prohibits fishing in New Meadows Lake from December 31 to April 1, as well as harvesting quahogs on Sundays, to minimize mortality associated with winter fishing.

The Sunday closures will remain after the winter season and do not have a term limit. The winter closure has a sunset provision that ends in April 2019.

Recent surveys conducted by the department show a decline in the quahog population, according to department spokesperson Jeff Nichols.

Devereaux said quahogs have a high mortality rate when exposed to cold weather and said the babies are not tolerant of cold weather.

“It’s a great management decision by the state,” he said.

Devereaux said quahog fishing is an open fishery, meaning there is no lottery, and anybody with a state license is allowed to fish in the area. He said conservation measures often do cause grief, especially since it is an open to all.

The Department of Marine Resources conducted a public hearing in Bath in October, with 20 quahog harvesters offering their opinions on the proposed changes. Many were opposed to the restrictions.