Initially the Department of Marine Resources had suspended fishing around the island for two weeks in the aftermath of this week’s alleged shooting of one lobsterman by another in a dispute over fishing territory. But now the state allows Matinicus Island fishermen to be back in their business.
The Knox County Superior Court has reversed the decision in response to requests for preliminary injunctions against the state filed by two Matinicus lobstermen affected by the closing. DMR Commissioner George LaPointe, opined that the shutdown order on Tuesday in response to the alleged shooting Monday morning of Chris Young, 41, by Vance Bunker, 68.
Commissioner LaPointe, Marine Patrol Col. Joseph Fessenden and Assistant Attorneys General Mark Randlett and Chris Taub were there to represent the state. Advocating for the fishermen were Camden attorney Christopher MacLean and Matinicus attorney Nat Hussey. After the hearing, LaPointe said the emergency rule was necessary to get the island residents focused on working together, and that Thursday’s settlement accomplished that.
LaPointe expressed hope that the coming discussions would resolve a situation that has simmered for years. He said that the department had been confronted with gear issues in the past, but never in such a violent manner. Fessenden, who will accompany LaPointe to Matinicus for discussions Saturday, said he hoped things would have calmed down enough by then to relax the coverage.
