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.
The dates of the meetings are:
Zone A on February 27, 2012
Zone B on February 28, 2012
Zone C on February 29, 2012
Zone D on February 29, 2012
Zone E on March 16, 2012
Zone F on March 16, 2012
Zone G on March 17, 2012
mission is to protect and enhance the lobster industry in Maine and the people and communities that depend upon it. Contact: Heather Tetreault, Whale Projects Coordinator 659 103443 or 967 104555 heather@mainelobstermen.org
The meetings this winter will include a summary of current research on the properties of ropes used in lobstering 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 the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts, also is seeking feedback on a new computer modeling exercise created to forecast the risk of Maine lobster gear entangling a right whale.
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 as they sleep on the water's surface. 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.