Extension associates promote new fisheries research techniques and management strategies, and help develop new fishing gear that is effective and minimizes impacts on the marine environment and endangered species. They also facilitate the involvement of industry in data collection, and encourage research partnerships between scientists and fishermen, which provide useful information to marine resource managers. Sea Grant also supports harvester efforts to enhance, and actively participate in co-managing, their fisheries.

The Use of Positively Buoyant Ground Cables and Sweep to Reduce Seabed Contact and to Enhance Species Selectivity
This project is a collaboration with Capt. Kelo Pinkham of Boothbay, and aims to modify a bottom trawl and associated gear to reduce the contact with the seabed, and to decrease the retention of flatfish in catches targeting cod and haddock. Dana Morse and the team will travel to the Flume Tank facility at Memorial University in Newfoundland for testing of a model trawl system, and then build a full-scale prototype. Field trials will commence in the spring of 2007 from Capt. Pinkham's boat, F/V Jeanne C .

Involvement with the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance (NAMA)
NAMA is a nonprofit group whose mission is: To restore and enhance an enduring Northwest Atlantic marine system, which supports a healthy diversity and abundance of marine life and human uses. It is a group of fishermen, conservationists, scientists and others, who rely on a principle-based approach to solving marine resource problems, and finding opportunities. Dana Morse has been a member of the board of trustees for several years, and is currently serving as presiding chair. More information on NAMA, its activities, and the principles by which it operates can be found on the Web site: www.namanet.org.

Spat Collection and Stock Enhancement of Sea Scallops
Dana Morse has been involved with many fishermen and scientists in this effort, which began in the state in 1999. Through the use of techniques and materials developed in Japan , fishermen are experimenting with the efficacy of collecting scallop juveniles from the wild, and using them to re-seed scallop beds. This is a long-term effort, with many small and large steps already made. Interest in scallop aquaculture has accompanied the stock enhancement effort, and Dana is supporting partnerships—among commercial fishermen, scientists, and conservation groups—that will help to make the program successful. He is also introducing the general public to the exciting work that is taking place. Fishermen have been very successful in collecting scallop seed using the Japanese technique, and work now focuses on determining the fate of re-seeded individuals and improving their survival and growth.

Atlantic Halibut
Cooperative State of Maine Survey of Atlantic Halibut in Groundfish Closed Areas in the Eastern Gulf of Maine.

Building Fisheries Capacities
Helping coastal communities integrate aquaculture and traditional fisheries.

Clams
A collection of projects relating to the clam shellfishery.

Fisheries Education Workshops
These three workshops were part of a northeast regional Sea Grant fisheries extension enhancement project involving Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine Sea Grant programs and coordinated by Rhode Island Sea Grant.

Lobster Management
The objective of this project is to help fishing communities, DMR, University of Maine and the Maine Legislature develop and implement a collaborative process of managing the Maine lobster resource that fosters stewardship responsibility equally shared among all stakeholders.

Marine Protected Areas
In June 2004, the Maine Sea Grant Program was awarded National Sea Grant funding to initiate education and outreach on the use of marine protected areas (MPAs) as a tool for fisheries and other marine management.

Click here to view the Fisheries Archives