Events

Maine Lobstermen's Association Meetings

February 27, 2012 - February 29, 2012

Lobstermen invited to give their thoughts on whales and lobster gear
The Maine Lobstermen's Association (MLA) has scheduled a series of meetings, one in each of the state's seven lobster zones, to discuss current research on interactions between lobster gear and endangered whales. The purpose of the meetings is to get feedback from lobstermen about future research projects that they think would add knowledge about this topic.
February 27: Zone A University of Maine Machias Science Room #102 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
February 28: Zone B Bar Harbor Town Office Auditorium 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
February 29: Zone C Bucksport Council Chambers 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
February 29: Zone D Rockland Lincoln St Center 2 - 6 pm

North Atlantic right whales are an endangered species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. The whales suffer injuries when they become entangled in fishing nets, lobster gear or are struck by large ships. The MLA has worked in collaboration with the Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction for the past three years on multiple research and outreach projects aimed at identifying practical solutions to the problem of right whales becoming entangled in fishing gear.
The meetings this winter will include a summary of current research on the properties of ropes used in the lobster fishery and development of new ropes. MLA staff will present the Association's efforts to characterize lobster gear in the Gulf of Maine and its involvement in engineering studies designed to better understand how whales become entangled in rope. The MLA, in collaboration with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts, is also seeking feedback on a new computer modeling exercise created to forecast the risk of Maine lobster gear entangling a right whale.
The Maine Lobstermen's Association is the oldest lobstering association in the state of Maine. Its mission is to protect and enhance the lobster industry in Maine and the people and communities that depend on it.
Contact:
Heather Tetreault, Whale Projects Coordinator
659-3443 or 967-4555
Maine Fishermen's Forum

March 1, 2012 - March 3, 2012

The 37th Annual Maine Fishermen's Forum
The Fishermen's Forum provides an opportunity for fishermen and others in the seafood industry to meet with fisheries managers and state and federal representatives in a neutral setting. There are over 30 free seminars on subjects ranging from fishing gear to fishing regulations.
Forum information
Location: Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine
Resort registration

The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction will have a booth set up on Friday the 2nd and Saturday the 3rd.
Thursday Workshop (1-4:30)
How do whales get entangled in fishing gear? Using reverse engineering to understand whale entanglements
Maine Lobstermen's Association and Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
Little is known about how whales become entangled in fishing gear. Despite major efforts by the fishing industry, dozens of whales are observed entangled in fishing gear each year and numerous others have scars from encounters with gear. There are many clues available to help us better understand whale entanglement. The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction held a reverse engineering workshop in 2011 that brought together a varied group of participants to review information from a series of entanglement cases in order to piece together the puzzle of how individual whale become entangled. Participants used the data and their own observations to formulate ideas about how whales might have encountered the gear and the reactions that led them to become entangled.
This workshop will provide participants an opportunity to conduct their own reverse engineering exercise. Using several of those case studies, workshop participants will review gear retrieved from entangled whales, discuss the cases and make their own assessment of how each whale may have become entangled based on the type of gear involved. A summary of the 2011 reverse engineering workshop participants' findings will also be presented.
If you are not able to attend this seminar, be sure to visit the Bycatch Consortium booth during the forum. Fishing gear retrieved from whales and case study summaries will be available at the booth. Fishermen are encouraged to visit the Consortium's booth to offer ideas about how these whales are getting entangled and whale might be done to prevent future cases.
Photo credit: K. McClellan
Maine Lobstermen's Association Meetings

March 16, 2012 - March 17, 2012

Lobstermen invited to give their thoughts on whale and lobster gear
The Maine Lobstermen's Association (MLA) has scheduled a series of meetings, one in each of the state's seven lobster zones, to discuss current research on interactions between lobster gear and endangered whales. The purpose of the meetings is to get feedback from lobstermen about future research projects that they think would add knowledge about this topic.
March 16: Zone E DMR Boothbay Large Conference Room 8 am - 12 pm
March 16: Zone F Yarmouth Town Hall Community Room 2 - 6 pm
March 17: Zone G McArthur Library Community Room Biddleford 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
North Atlantic right whales are an endangered species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. The whales suffer injuries when they become entangled in fishing nets, lobster gear or are struck by large ships. The MLA has worked in collaboration with the Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction for the past three years on multiple research and outreach projects aimed at identifying practical solutions to the problem of right whales becoming entangled in fishing gear.
The meetings this winter will include a summary of current research on the properties of ropes used in the lobster fishery and development of new ropes. MLA staff will present the Association's efforts to characterize lobster gear in the Gulf of Maine and its involvement in engineering studies designed to better understand how whales become entangled in rope. The MLA, in collaboration with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts, is also seeking feedback on a new computer modeling exercise created to forecast the risk of Maine lobster gear entangling a right whale.
The Maine Lobstermen's Association is the oldest lobstering association in the state of Maine. Its mission is to protect and enhance the lobster industry in Maine and the people and communities that depend on it.
Contact:
Heather Tetreault, Whale Projects Coordinator
659-3443 or 967-4555

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