By Ann Backus, MS Maine has a variety of fisheries. Those who fish for lobster, clams, and who practice aquaculture are more likely to fish alone than those in the scallop or multispecies fisheries. These fisheries are often managed by sole proprietors, i.e., involve self-employed fishermen. Single-handed fishermen use various sizes of boats, but generally fish within three miles of shore. Lobster Institute Photo. In these fisheries, less complicated fishing gear means a person can fish...

By Ann Backus, MS We have already had some pretty cold days with low temperatures and gale warnings on the Northeast Coast. By this time lobstermen should have switched to polypropylene and insulated gloves and socks when they are hauling. Your first layer should be poly and the second an insulating layer. The goal is to wick moisture away from hands and feet and also insulate hands and feet from a wet and windy environment. Frostnip occurs when the fingers, toes, nose or ear lobes become...

In this article, I will try to explain what opioids are and how they work in the brain. First a disclaimer: As I am not a physician, neuroscientist, or toxicologist, I am relying on the knowledge and work of others who are in those fields. It is clear from my scouting of the information available to the public that most of the information is not about how opioids affect the brain, but about how serious the epidemic of opioid use is in Maine and the rest of the country. Opioids are synthetic...