What a great
tour today! We met Ann Backus (Harvard
ERC) and Kevin Rousseau (Maine Department of Marine Resources) at the Gulf of
Maine Resources Institute. We split into
two groups. The first group went on the
Maine Marine Patrol for a tour of the Portland Harbor. We met a lobster boat and saw them pulling
traps. We were able to ask questions of
the lobstermen. We were able to see many
hazards associated with lobstering, including ergonomic issues, slips, tangling
in ropes, and others. The other group was
participating in a tour of the commercial fishing pier. We visited Marine Liferaft, a company that
inspects and services life rafts that are used on commercial fishing
vessels. We went to Brown Trading Co., a
retail market that sells fish to the public in their retail store, as well as
sells fish through their wholesale/restaurant side of the business. Then we went to the Fish Exchange, where the
fish is brought from the fishing vessels.
The Exchange’s primary function is offloading and auctioning of
seafood. Commercial fishing vessels are offloaded in the early
morning. The Exchange separates the catch by species of fish and market
grade. The Exchange conducts auctions to
determine the most accurate, up-to-date prices for wholesale fresh seafood. And finally, we went to Vessel Services. They produce and sell ice, as well as fuel
and supplies for Maine's commercial fishing industry.
We went back to the Gulf of Maine
Resources Institute and had presentations on commercial fishing safety. We then were able to sit in the DMR
Commercial Fishing Safety Council meeting. They had interesting discussions on
how to make the commercial fishing industry safer. Tow issues were the towing height on A-frame on
scallop boats, and fishing vessel examination requirements.
Thank you Kevin and Ann, as well as all the others who participated to make this an incredible learning experience for our group!
Thank you Kevin and Ann, as well as all the others who participated to make this an incredible learning experience for our group!
A video of the lobstermen pulling a trap:
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