May 2023

May 6 – 1st Annual Auburn Lobster Festival, 1:00 – 7:00 PM  at Main Street-Festival Plaza, Auburn Maine.

May 7– BAND TOGETHER – Concert to Preserve Maine’s Lobstering Industry, Elks Lodge #188, 1945 Congress St., Portland, Maine. Use this link for more information and tickets.

May 10-11– Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force meeting, hosted by BOEM, at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine. Use this link for more information, to register for in-person, or to access the live-stream option closer to the event.

June 2023

Maine Lobster Boat Races begin on June 17th, 2023, in Boothbay Harbor. View the full race schedule on the Fans of Maine Lobster Boat Racing Facebook page. 

June 17 – South Bristol Fishermans Co-OP – Save the Maine Lobsterman Fundraiser. They are looking for donations for raffles, and a silent auction, and will have live entertainment!
Message or call the South Bristol Co-op, at (207) 644-8224, with all inquiries and ask for Laura!

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October 22 – 27, 2023

12th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster (and Crab) Biology and Management (ICWL)

The Western Rock Lobster Council (WRL), Australia’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) are pleased to be hosting the 12th ICWL workshop on 22 – 27 October 2023 at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle, Western Australia.

ICWL returns to where it all began in Western Australia (WA) over 40 years ago, when a group of 37 lobster biologists from 6 countries met in Perth, Australia to discuss and compare their work on lobster ecology, physiology, and management protocols, and to find common themes amongst the different species that were commercially fished.  Since its humble beginnings the ICLW has grown in popularity and prestige, and in recent years has attracted 150-200 participants from around 20 different countries.

Fremantle is a major port for the western rock lobster fleet just 20 km from Perth, the capital city of WA. The western rock lobster fishery is the largest single species fishery in Australia with a value of over AUD$450 million annually, and a long history of internationally recognised research, management, and compliance. In 2000, this fishery was the first in the world to receive the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation.

The theme of the 12th ICWL is ‘ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM)’. EBFM is a holistic approach to fisheries management that recognises all the interactions within an ecosystem rather than considering a single species or issue in isolation.  We consider this represents best practice for fisheries management and reflects that fisheries research and management focus is now broader than just sustainability. Therefore, in addition to presentations that focus on lobster (and crab) biology and stock assessment, we will also welcome presentations that examine other aspects of EBFM, such as ecosystem effects of fishing, economic assessments, social issues, governance, and compliance with management regulations.

Next year we are also very excited to extend the scope of the conference to include submissions relating to other decapod species, specifically crabs, welcoming abstracts on all aspects of crab research, biology and management.

Given the interest in lobster aquaculture worldwide, particularly the Asian region, we are also hoping to attract strong support for the planned aquaculture session. As always an industry day is planned to be an important component of the program, and we are looking forward to welcoming commercial and recreational lobster industry participants.

WRL, FRDC and DPIRD are looking forward to hosting scientists, managers and industry participants in Western Australia in 2023. We welcome any ideas that you may have for the lobster workshop such as particular sessions and special workshops that could be held as part of the 12th ICWL.

Co-chairs

Nick Caputi                                                                                     Nic Sofoulis
(nick.caputi@dpird.wa.gov.au)                                                  (sofs1@bigpond.com)

Description:
In Maine, where approximately eighty-percent of the commercially harvested lobster are landed, the value of the 2021 harvest set a record but there is cause for concern. While the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2020 stock assessment indicated record high stock abundance in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank, analyses of landing data from the state of Maine show a downward trend from a high in 2016 of 132 million pounds to an average annual 102 million pounds from 2019 to 2021. As ecosystem changes persist, the Gulf of Maine warms at a rapid rate, and southern New England continues to experience low abundance and recruitment failure, it is imperative that research, data, observations, and application are needed to understand and inform the current state and also prepare for the future state of the American Lobster fishery.

The American Lobster fishery’s sustainability relies not only on the ecological understanding of the species but also the economic resiliency of the industry. Expanding uses of the marine environment such as offshore wind energy development and regulatory uncertainties related to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (FR–210827–0171) have introduced the potential for significant socio-economic impacts to the lobster industry. These changes affect how and where the lobster industry operates, placing additional pressures on fishing communities and a continued need to understand the biological and human dimensions of this significant fishery. Research approaches that examine the social, behavioral, and economic implications of and adaptations to ecosystem and/or regulatory changes are important to enhance community resiliency and fill a knowledge gap for resource managers in need of research and data to inform integrated approaches to complex marine issues.

In FY23, consistent with its mission to enhance practical use and conservation in order to create a sustainable economy and environment, Sea Grant’s American Lobster Research Program will fund projects that address priority research needs to enhance our understanding of and address impacts to this significant, complex and dynamic fishery. Projects that involve partnerships among industry, State agencies, and/or academia, including but not limited to co-production and cooperative research, are strongly encouraged.

View full notice of funding opportunity on grants.gov.

Please direct all questions to Sea Grant (sg.grants@noaa.gov). Please specify that your question is related to this competition in the subject line.

Statement of the Job:
The GIS, Outreach and Evaluation Coordinator is a 3-year soft-money position supporting the newly formed NNA Lobster Network funded by the National Science Foundation’s Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) Program.  The position’s primary function will be to serve the stakeholder outreach objectives and geo-spatial mapping objectives of the project. The Outreach and Evaluation Coordinator will provide facilitation, outreach, evaluation, technical assistance, and GIS support for stakeholder engagement activities and external partnerships both in the US and Canada. Network objectives will benefit from a professional individual with a global perspective attuned to local issues and stakeholder interests. Typical hiring range for this soft-money funded position is $50,000 to $60,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Qualifications:
Required:

View complete job description or apply here.

For questions about the search, please contact search committee chair Richard Wahle at Richard.wahle@maine.edu or 207-581-1443.