HALLOWELL (AP) — The Maine Department of Marine Resources has confirmed earlier reports that the start of the elver fishing season will be delayed.
The DMR said Wednesday that the March 22 start of the elver season will be pushed back to April 6 at noon.
The state says the delayed start will give it time to set catch limits for state fishermen and gather information from American Indian tribes about individual catch limits for their fishermen.
The delay will also give the state time to distribute new swipe cards that use magnetic strips to record sales of elvers.
Elvers are juvenile eels that have ballooned in value in recent years to become the second most valuable fishery in Maine behind lobster.
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