Maine Tribes Seek Deal With State On Commercial Fishing

Maine’s American Indian tribes want state officials to come to the table for a potentially wide-reaching agreement about the way tribes harvest commercial fish. Passamaquoddy legislative Rep. Matthew Dana says members of Maine’s tribes have fished for thousands of years and deserve a bigger role in state decision making. His bill would allow for cooperative management of lucrative marine species such as lobsters, clams and baby eels. The tribes’ request represents a broadening of an earlier drive to reach agreement with the state about fishing for baby eels.