American Lobster and State Law
02.07 Rocky Shore Current Event—Activity
Joey Afonso
1. How has the catch of lobsters changed over the past 15 years in the state of Maine? The catch of lobsters has risen to record heights.
2. What does Walter Day suggest needs to be done to keep the industry flourishing? Mr. Day believes in the self-policing of V-notching the lobsters and to let the fishery follow an up-and-down cycle, and drive out the unfit or uncommitted.
3. What are shorts? Lobsters that are too small.
4. What are eggers? Females carrying masses of roe on their underbellies.
5. How are females carrying eggs marked? By cutting a small V-shaped notch in their tails. Why do they do this? So other lobstermen would know they were breeding stock. Also, it is state law.
6. Why are oversized lobsters also thrown back? Because they are considered superstuds of the ocean that produce bumper crops of young.
7. Besides following the rules closely, what are some other ways the lobstermen of Vinalhaven protect the lobster crop? They do the V-notching as a way to self-police themselves working together in the community.
8. Besides the lobstermen's efforts, what are other factors that may be influencing the numbers of lobsters? They discourage outsiders and require apprenticeships of the locals. Some areas of the Maine coast are closed to new lobstermen altogether. Also, state law limits lobstermen to 800 traps each, and summer Sundays are considered no-fishing days. Change in the ocean. Better improving gear and technology make lobstermen more efficient.
9. There are signs that the numbers may be dropping. What are the plans to try and keep the industry booming? By driving out the unfit and uncommitted. More emphasis in V-notching, limiting entry to new lobstermen and similar measures.
10. Would you become a lobsterman if you could? No I would not want to be a lobsterman. Why or why not? I am allergic to shellfish.
Joey Afonso
1. How has the catch of lobsters changed over the past 15 years in the state of Maine? The catch of lobsters has risen to record heights.
2. What does Walter Day suggest needs to be done to keep the industry flourishing? Mr. Day believes in the self-policing of V-notching the lobsters and to let the fishery follow an up-and-down cycle, and drive out the unfit or uncommitted.
3. What are shorts? Lobsters that are too small.
4. What are eggers? Females carrying masses of roe on their underbellies.
5. How are females carrying eggs marked? By cutting a small V-shaped notch in their tails. Why do they do this? So other lobstermen would know they were breeding stock. Also, it is state law.
6. Why are oversized lobsters also thrown back? Because they are considered superstuds of the ocean that produce bumper crops of young.
7. Besides following the rules closely, what are some other ways the lobstermen of Vinalhaven protect the lobster crop? They do the V-notching as a way to self-police themselves working together in the community.
8. Besides the lobstermen's efforts, what are other factors that may be influencing the numbers of lobsters? They discourage outsiders and require apprenticeships of the locals. Some areas of the Maine coast are closed to new lobstermen altogether. Also, state law limits lobstermen to 800 traps each, and summer Sundays are considered no-fishing days. Change in the ocean. Better improving gear and technology make lobstermen more efficient.
9. There are signs that the numbers may be dropping. What are the plans to try and keep the industry booming? By driving out the unfit and uncommitted. More emphasis in V-notching, limiting entry to new lobstermen and similar measures.
10. Would you become a lobsterman if you could? No I would not want to be a lobsterman. Why or why not? I am allergic to shellfish.