Collaborative Interdisciplinary Research for Understanding Bycatch in the Maine Lobster Fishery
Yong Chen and Christine Beitl
School of Marine Sciences, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Maine
In this seminar, Chen and Beitl will discuss their research on bycatch, the incidental catch of non-target species, which represents both an ecological and social problem in fisheries management. The decision of fishers to keep or discard bycatch caught in a targeted fishery is based on a fisher’s knowledge, understanding, and attitudes about the non-targeted species and their perceived insights about potential survivability of discarded fish. Bycatch is a widespread problem in fisheries management and its causes are complicated. The team will discuss their cooperative approach involving the participation of practitioners, policy makers, NGOs, and fishers.
