LOBSTER RED BOARD MAKES GRANTS TO FOUR MAINE ORGANIZATIONS

“These projects will help sustain Maine’s iconic lobster fishery by fostering a new generation of educated and engaged fishermen, by improving our understanding of the complex marine environment, and by refining our ability to measure the impacts of the lobster industry on Maine’s economy,” said Patrick Keliher, Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner.PERC will receive $37,500 to develop four lobster curriculum units for its Eastern Maine Skippers Program which is an education initiative for high school students planning a career in the lobster fishing industry. The Maine Lobstermen’s Community Alliance will be awarded $37,500 to build on the success of its Maine Lobstermen’s Leadership Institute (MLLI), which provides education for Maine’s lobster industry members. Participants in the MLLI program will complete three training modules which will include discussions of industry issues such as management, science, market and supply chain dynamics and product quality. There will also be modules that provide opportunities for experiential learning and information exchange with fisheries participants outside of Maine. A research project, titled “A Proactive Approach to Addressing Lobster Health in the Context of a Changing Ecosystem,” will be developed by the University of Maine System. The university will receive $127,482 to support the project which will be on the changing ocean ecosystem and how these changes can impact lobster reproductive development and susceptibility to disease. Finally, Colby College will receive $81,657 to conduct an analysis of economic impacts at each point along the supply chain in Maine’s lobster industry. The funding for projects is provided by the Research Education and Development Board through revenues from the sale of Maine lobster plates.