Providing the Lobster Industry New Gear Technology in Response to Regulatory and Environmental Changes

PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO PROVIDE LOBSTERMEN THE NECESSARY DATA IMAGING TOOLS TO NAVIGATE A CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY LANDSCAPE. THE RESEARCHERS PROPOSE NEW SENSOR DEPLOYMENTS, MODEL DEVELOPMENT, AND DATA PRODUCTS THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY DELIVER CRITICAL INFORMATION TO THE FLEET. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE RESEARCHERS WILL OUTFIT DOZENS OF COMMERCIAL VESSELS WITH MICRO-COMPUTERS, SENSORS, AND VARIOUS SHIP-TO-SHORE COMMUNICATION MODES. GIVING VESSEL OPERATORS ACCESS TO REALTIME INFORMATION BOTH ON THEIR WHEELHOUSE AND HOME-BASED INTERNET-CONNECTED SCREENS WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION THEY CAN USE TO ADJUST THEIR FISHING ACTIVITY. WITH DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM STAKEHOLDERS, THE RESEARCHERS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL DATA COLLECTION AND SHARING WITHIN THE GULF OF MAINE SHOULD HELP LOBSTERMEN WORK IN WAYS THAT ARE MORE STRATEGIC, SURGICAL, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND ULTIMATELY PROFI