Creaser et al. 1983 describe the history of the development of this bait worm fishery, possibly the best documented in the world, and worm habitats, digging methods, packing media, and markets. Much of the following information was taken from this document and will, therefore, be slightly out of date. Information on regulations and landings is current.

The first recorded commercial worm fishery on the US Atlantic coast was taking place on Long Island, New York State, by the early 1920s, supplying bait to party boats. Sandworms Nereis virens were the first species taken, but bloodworms Glycera dibranchiata were soon being harvested as well. The fishery had extended to several other states by the 1930s, but was still not meeting market demand. Possible reasons for this lack of supply included several familiar arguments:

• an initial lack of abundance and complaints from landowners objecting to digging in their beaches;
• overdigging and depletion of known stocks;
• increased demand in sports fisheries;
• a decline due to increased pollution from heated effluent discharge and toxic heavy metals;
• and
• a demise in the fishery due to increasing water temperatures.

Abundant worm resources were found in Maine in 1933, and by 1937 the industry was sufficiently well-established for the Maine Legislature to institute ‘control’ legislature. Nearly 40 laws were passed between 1937 and 1955, prohibiting non-residents from digging worms within the boundaries of various municipalities. All were repealed in 1955, when it was discovered that they were motivated by property owners wishing to prevent trespass rather than conserve stocks. By this stage a worm fishery was also established in Canada and importing worms to the USA.

The State of Maine Department of Marine Resources licenses worm diggers and worm dealers. Only individual residents are eligible for a worm digging licence, which costs US $ 43. All revenues from these licences are paid into the Marine Worm Fund (this generates about US $ 46,000 annually and is used to carry out research related to worms, the industry, its restoration, development and conservation). It is unlawful to take or possess more than 125 worms in a day without holding either a marine worm digger’s licence or a marine worm dealer’s licence. Additionally, marine worms may only be taken by ‘devices or instruments operated solely by hand power’, and it is illegal to dig worms commercially on Sundays. Enforcement of these and (other fisheries) rules and regulations is limited by the capacity of the 47 State Marine Patrol Officers to patrol 3,500 miles of coastline, and identification of unlicensed commercial diggers complicated by the existence of the 125 marine worm personal bag limit.

Each marine worm dealer is required by legislation to submit monthly reports (by the tenth day of the following month) of their marine worm purchases and sales. These are completed on standard Department of Marine Resources forms. They must contain purchase details (dates of each purchase of worms, the quantity purchased, the name of individual from whom the worms were purchased and information whether that person is a marine worm dealer); and sales information (dates, quantities of worms sold and name of person to whom sold). No data exist providing information on exports. The Maine worm fishery was one of the top five commercial fisheries (landed value) in the late 1970s, when fewer than 1,200 licensed diggers landed worms worth over US $ 1 million. More recent landings data are provided below.

Landings of bloodworms Glycera dibranchiata from Maine, 1980-1997 (data provided in personal communication from National Marine Fisheries Service Fisheries Statistics & Economics Division – NMFS web site).

(*Preliminary data and subject to change.)

Numbers and values (US $ paid to bait diggers) of bloodworms Glycera dibranchiata and sandworm Nereis virens landed in Maine, 1981-1993 (data provided by E. P. Creaser pers. comm.).

Licensed worm diggers take only one species or the other of worms, using specially contructed worm hoes made from adapted garden forks. They sell their catch to licensed worm dealers, who pack (using weed provided by seaweed gathers) and ship live worms by refrigerated truck, bus or airfreight to wholesale distributors. Distributors sell to retail outlets, who divide shipments and sell worms by the dozen to recreational fishermen. Creaser et al. 1983 report that a market in California had relatively recently begun to take worms, and the most recent market developed was in France. Both species are required in France, but 90% of shipments are of the more highly priced bloodworm Glycera dibranchiata. These shipments are all of live worms.

Such detailed information is only available because the Maine legislation requires these data to be submitted, and uses its licence fees for monitoring, management and conservation purposes. The data suggest that the bait worm fishery in the UK is also of huge value, and might also benefit from improved management and regulation were it possible to legislate in the UK in a similar way.

Acknowledgements: The above information was provided by Ted Creaser and Chris Finlayson, Maine Department of Marine Resources, USA.

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