The Lobster resource : Monitoring, assessment and management

The lobster port and sea sampling project receive significant funding from interjurisdictional projects. This money allows fulltime DMR staff to plan, implement and complete needed fishery dependent monitoring of the Maine lobster fishery. Parallel awards from other agencies that allow hiring of temporary personnel and cover costs associated with sampling enhance these projects. In 2001 the lobster project successfully completed two largescale monitoring projects and contributed to a critical review of the existing programs with the University of Maine. The port-sampling project completed the second consecutive 12-month sampling season in recent years. Ten dealers were selected at random each month. Over the course of the season 433 interviews were conducted at 61 dealers on the coast. The at-sea sampling program visits each lobster management zone three times each month from May through November. In 2001, the sea sampling team completed 173 sampling trips out of 80 different ports, exceeding expectations for the season. Combined, these two programs provide a comprehensive look at the commercial lobster fishery in Maine. Grant no. NA16Fl1089