New Video Series Helps Boaters Avoid Lobster Gear
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By US Harbors
If you’ve ever been boating along the Maine coast, you’ve seen the many buoys used to mark lobster traps. Maine boaters simply refer to these buoys as “lobster pots.” If you hear “lobster pot,” you might picture a metal container filled with water for boiling lobsters, and you’d be right; however, in Maine, a lobster pot also refers to the buoy, the toggle, and the line leading to the trap used to catch lobsters on the sea floor. The buoys are uniquely marked, often with bright colors, to identify the owner. For Maine boaters, learning to navigate around these “lobster pots” is an essential skill.
It is important to understand the challenges of navigating in areas where working men and women fish by learning how to minimize risk, avoid entanglement in gear, and prevent damage to fishing equipment. Fortunately, a new video series offers valuable information to help boaters navigate lobster gear along the Maine Coast.
The Maine Marine Trades Association and Maine Sea Grant have collaborated with other local organizations and partners on a campaign aimed at empowering boaters with tips on navigating around lobster gear and sea farms. A series of five videos and other educational resources can be found on the website, LoveMaineWaters.org.
The video series offers not only navigation tips for avoiding commercial fishing gear but also practical recommendations for securing everyday boating items, further supporting efforts to prevent marine debris. Viewers are introduced to various watercraft hull designs, along with explanations of where lobster buoys and lines are most likely to become accidentally snagged. In addition, the series provides advice on hull modification strategies, equipping boaters with solutions to reduce risks, as well as advice on what to do if they do encounter a snag.
To learn more and watch the videos, visit the website here: LoveMaineWaters.org
