2010 Lobster Trap Tag Specifications.doc

ATTACHMENT A

Description of the Tags 2010 1) The tags must be made of a flexible, durable material that can be attached to any lobster trap and will survive intact in salt water and Maine weather for at least one year.

2) The tags must be easy to attach, even while wearing gloves, aboard a rocking boat.

3) The color of the tag, plug and the imprint is to be announced. (The Department will be requesting different colors in subsequent years).

4) The tag must attach to the trap using a locking mechanism such that the tag cannot be removed without being cut or broken, and thus cannot be easily reattached or reused.

5) The tag should not interfere in any way with the operation of the trap.

6) The dimensions of each tag are as follows: minimum length 6 to 7 inches and width 3/8 to ½ inch.

7) Each tag must also be imprinted in black or white with the letters “ME10”, a 3-digit serial number, 001 - 880 consecutively, and up to a 6-digit license number. The printing must also survive, and be readable, in a salt-water environment for at least one year. The number of tags ordered usually reaches in excess of three million tags.

8) Each tag must also be imprinted with harvester identification.

A. Each tag must be imprinted with the harvester’s license number, which may have up to 6 digits and possibly up to 2 letters at the end, up to another 4 letters for the fishing zone, DMR, two digits for the year (10) and possibly EEZ. The letter A followed by up to 6 numbers and up to 2 symbols will also need to be added.

B. The plug in each tag must be a different color than the tag itself. This is needed for security purposes and is mandatory for enforcement purposes.

9) 15,000-40,000 replacement tags will also need to be manufactured. Color is to be announced; they will need to be numbered sequentially from 1 to 40,000, ME 10 and the letters REPL. Another 20,000-40,000 replacement tags will need to be made as above but with the added letters EEZ on the tags.

10) 12,000 noncommercial tags will need to be produced, as well. Color is to be announced.

The tags will need to be numbered sequentially from 1 to 12,000, ME 10 NC.

11) 400 demonstration lobster tags will need to be manufactured. Color is to be announced.

Tags must be numbered sequentially from 1 to 400, DMR 10, DL.

12) Elver tags are needed using same design as described above. Color is to be announced. These tags need to be numbered sequentially from 1 to 700, DMR 10 ELV. Replacement tags need to be numbered sequentially from 1 to 400, DMR 10 ELV REPL.

13) Additional tags types may be requested throughout the year.

Please take note that the following are the tentative color requests for 2010. This is subject to change. Tag colors are announced in the fall of the year.

Lobster Trap Tags – Primary color – pink with green plug and black lettering

Replacement color – orange with white plug and black lettering

Catastrophic color - white with black plug and black lettering

Demonstration Tags – White with black lettering

Elver Tags – Primary color - green with white lettering

Replacement color – yellow with black lettering

Distribution, Reporting and Invoicing Requirements

1) Harvesters will order the tags from the Department throughout the year. The Department will fax the orders daily, up to five days per week, to the tag supplier, with each harvester’s name, address, license number, zone, area and number of tags requested.

2) The supplier will ship the requested number of tags to each harvester within 15 business days of receiving the faxed order from the Department. This time element is crucial and will be enforced. The supplier must abide by the parameters set forth.

Note: If the supplier fails to ship seals within the 15 business day requirement, then a $100.00 penalty fee will be imposed to the supplier for every business day over the 15 business day shipping allowance.

3) The tag supplier is responsible for the delivery of the tags to the harvester and for replacing any tags that are lost in transit or that are faulty. (The supplier will redo any incorrect tags and ship to the harvester at the supplier’s expense).

4) As tags are shipped, the supplier will report to the Department weekly, listing each harvester’s name, license number, the shipping date and quantity shipped.

5) Any tags returned undeliverable will be shipped at the supplier’s expense to the

Department.

6) Each order submitted to the supplier has a date in the upper right hand corner referred to as the “Batch Date”. Each invoice submitted for payment must list each “Batch

Date” and provide the corresponding number of tags shipped against each “Batch

Date”