A recent presentation in Jonesport about alternative lobster fishing gear to reduce the chance for entanglement with whales generated much discussion from the fishermen who attended, with some skeptical of the gear and others supportive.
      According to NOAA research data released in 2024, at the end of 2023 the worldwide population of the endangered North Atlantic right whale consisted of approximately 370 individuals. Reportedly, five were lost in 2024. These whales migrate up and down the North American coast, where they encounter two major hazards: ship strikes and fishing gear entanglements. To combat this mortality, regulations have been established designating where whales are known to gather, asking ship operators to reduce speed or bypass these places and restricting lobster fishing operations within their boundaries.
      The issue with lobster fishing involves the use of vertical lines connecting surface buoys to submerged traps. Whales are occasionally found to be entangled in the lines, leading to a slow death, although fishermen may dispute the ownership of the lines. The areas where lobstering is banned are often found to be lucrative, leading to profitable operations and a reluctance to avoid them.
      On February 18, fishermen were invited to hear more about alternative equipment that would make it safe to place traps in areas now off limits in an presentation co hosted by the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC). The presentation was held in Jonesport in the Community of Christ Church hall, with gear shown and demonstrated at the town pier. The DMR was represented by marine resource scientist Kevin Staples and the SCEC by Tora Johnson, director of the Sustainable Prosperity Initiative. About a dozen participated in the discussion, including several fishermen. The intent is to recruit volunteers to work with the equipment, to learn about its strengths and weaknesses, in the hope that eventually its use can be made more widespread. Those helping to test this gear will be compensated and provided with the trial equipment without cost and then permitted to set traps in the restricted areas.
      Two basic operational systems were presented. One uses an inflatable "lift bag," a float that is called to the surface by either a radio or acoustic signal, and the other uses a weak rope that can be used to trigger the release of a lift capable line, equipped with a float, from the bottom. One eliminates the vertical line entirely except for when the traps are actually being pulled; the other replaces the line with one easily broken by the whale.
      The fishermen present during the discussion provided much feedback, some skeptical and some supportive. Several spoke of the likelihood of placing their traps on top of somebody else's, as they would lack surface buoys to show the location of previous placements of gear. This situation, explained one, would exacerbate the existing conflict in the grey zone, the area where ownership is contested by the American and Canadian governments around Machias Seal Island, where fishermen must follow their own country's rules. Adding to this issue is the reluctance on the part of most fishermen to advertise to others where they find success.
      Locating areas where whales frequent has long been a matter of contention. One who spoke during the discussion pointed out, "It's been 30 years since I've seen a whale inside Schoodic Point." It was also stated that Massachusetts lobstermen had worked successfully with some of this gear, leading to the observation that "their tides and currents aren't like ours." These surface conditions, several stated, mean that without a surface buoy "you don't really know where you put that trap," as the current on the surface may be very different from that on the bottom. Staples pointed out that the electronic release system will work over a mile, and the coding within the system will release only the trap it is assigned to and not any others.
      Johnson asked, "If we can get some of the whale folk to come down, will you take them out on your boat?" Several said they would; none of those present demurred. It was also noted that there is little data available to support both the viability of the equipment and also whether it -- once available for sale -- would be profitable. Staples agreed that, at this time, there is little hard data available; they hoped that this trial period would provide convincing information.
      Johnson was asked, in an interview, whether this program received federal funding, and if so, would it continue given the actions recently taken by the administration. She confirmed that it comes from a federal fisheries grant that had been initially blocked, then released, leading her to believe that it would continue.
      The presentation then moved to the nearby town pier, where examples of the equipment could be viewed and demonstrated.