Woodside, Ruby

English

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryThe Sustainability Institute Research Institutes, Centers and Programs1-1-2014Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and ChangingTraditionsRuby WoodsideUniversity of New HampshireFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/sustainabilityThis Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Research Institutes, Centers and Programs at University of New Hampshire Scholars'Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Sustainability Institute by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars'Repository. For more information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationWoodside, Ruby, "Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions" (2014). Sustainability Institute Briefing. 40.https://scholars.unh.edu/sustainability/40Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions Steve Lawrence is a lobster fisherman in Kittery, Maine. He grew up in the area, and has been lobster fishing his entire life, similar to his father before him. Steve’s son is learning the trade as well; he is already working through the Maine Lobster Apprentice Program to earn his commercial lobster license before his 18th birthday. BusinessSteve fishes with 800 traps, which is the maximum allowed in Maine. He typically starts setting traps a quarter of a mile offshore, and continues for 15 miles. Steve currently sells his catch to Island Seafood, a local lobster distributor. He also sells fresh lobster at his dock directly to individual buyers.Climate Impacts SeenSteve notices that winters have been getting milder, with last year, 2013, being more of a typical Maine winter. “This past winter was the most normal winter we have had in the past 5-6 years. Two years ago, I don’t think it got cold at all.” Steve’s observations are supported by analysis of climate data, which shows that winter temperatures in the Durham, NH have risen almost 4° over the past four decades, more than in any other season.1What does this mean for the lobster industry? Steve says that the lobster season has changed significantly. Traditionally people would start to put out traps in the early spring as soon as the weather began to improve. Then, during the month of June, they would take a break. This is because June was typically the month when lobsters would shed, and decrease activity. Adult lobsters molt, or shed their outer shell, about once a year in order to grow.2 Several years ago fishermen started seeing softer lobsters (meaning lobsters that had just shed) in February and March. “That was a big joke,” says Steve. “We’re getting shedders in the winter-time now.” About 5 years ago, the lobsters also started shedding in deeper water. Whereas typically lobsters would move in to shallow water to shed, they now began to stay in the cooler waters offshore.TMSteve owns all of his equipment, and only has 2 more years to fully pay off his boat.Sustainability Briefings are a collection of occasional essays, thought pieces, case studies and research briefings through which University of New Hampshire (UNH) faculty, staff and students can connect with larger audiences on the complex issues of sustainability. The collection is sponsored by the Sustainability Institute at UNH, a convener, cultivator and champion of sustainability on campus, in the state and region, and around the world. Learn more at www.sustainableunh.unh.edu.“That pretty much changed the whole system, the whole cycle of lobster,” says Steve.  Both the time and spatial ranges of lobster cycles seem to be altered. Many of the lobsters that traditionally came in along the shore to shed do not come as far as they used to. They stay in deeper waters. Now, lobstermen can also catch lobsters in June, a month when traditionally there was no activity. “Everything is moved up three months.” Steve says that part of these changes may be due to increased water temperatures. One of the factors in determining lobster shedding is temperature; studies have shown that lobsters in warmer water temperatures grow faster.2 Interestingly, Steve has notice that this year, 2014, the lobsters have come all the way to the beach to shed. The year 2014 was also much colder than the past several years. This might explain why the lobsters moved to the shallower (and therefore warmer) waters. “They came in looking for the right temperature to shed. They came all the way this year to where they traditionally go.” It appears to Steve that the colder 2014 winter pushed the lobsters back to a normal trend. The seasonal unpredictability is a challenge for lobstermen. Catching lobster is mostly about timing and location of traps, says Steve. The actual methods and technology have not changed much over the history of the industry. Varying lobster movement makes it tricky for fishermen to know where to put their traps. For example, those who are fishing farther offshore this year are not catching anything, as most of the lobsters have migrated inshore. Evolving migration and shedding patterns may not be due solely to temperatures. Steve traces many of the changes back to a big storm and flood on Patriot’s Day in 2007. “This seemed to change the direction that the lobsters migrated,” says Steve. “It seemed to poison the bottom; the mud changed smell.” Since the flood, Steve and other lobstermen have noticed new species growing. For example, the barnacle and sea squirt population have exploded. Sea squirts are invasive filter feeders that attach themselves to hard surfaces, including gear like lobster traps.3 They can be especially damaging to shellfish farmers. Unfortunately, little is known about the conditions that drive sea squirt population increase.3Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions (Continued)The lobster industry in Maine has increased in recent years; the total landed value in 2013 is estimated at $364 million, which is $22 more than the previous year.5 In Maine alone there are well over 4,000 active commercial lobster fishers.5  New England leads the U.S. in lobster landings; in 2012 Maine and Massachusetts alone accounted for 94% of lobster harvested.6Mean annual sea surface temperature (°F) in the Gulf of Maine, 1887-2008. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) V3b ship and buoy observational gridded dataset using grids centered on 290E x 42N, 290E x 42N, and 292E x 44N Figure from Wake et al., (2011); data from Smith et al., (2008) Challenges The biggest challenge for Steve and other lobstermen is getting paid a fair price for their catch. Steve says that he has no way to predict whether or not it will be a good season; everything depends on the market price for lobster. He also says that many lobsters are sold at a set price before they are even caught; this may be through a dealer or a supermarket. This means that regardless of how many lobster are caught in a particular year, the fishermen have little control over how much they earn. Meanwhile, costs of lobster fishing have increased. Steve uses herring as bait for his traps, as do the majority of lobstermen. The herring that Steve buys originally come from Portland, ME. Herring prices have increased significantly in the last several years, in part due to a 2007 30% reduction in the quota allowed4 and concerns of overfishing. Steve remembers when the cost of a barrel of bait was $22, and compares it to today; he still gets the same price for his lobster, but bait prices are up to $75 a barrel.  Despite a booming lobster industry, many lobstermen are struggling for this reason. Use of pesticides also represents a problem for lobster populations, particularly as Kittery experiences increased development. Chemicals such as lawn pesticides and mosquito larva insecticides, when used close to the shore, tend to end up in the bay. These pesticides kill the lobster larva.  An interesting characteristic of the lobster industry is the time lapse between destructive events (such as a big storm or an influx of chemicals) and when impacts to population are felt. The animals that lobstermen catch are typically at least 7 years old, so the population decrease after a large death of larva may not be noticed for several years. Steve describes how the culture of lobster fishing has transformed over the years.  He has been fishing in the same general area his entire life, and traditionally lobstermen would respect the territory of fellow fishers. As a new generation of lobstermen takes to the waters, the unspoken rules and traditions seem to be changing. On top of the changes in ecosystem and weather trends, the lobster industry is experiencing an evolving culture from new attitudes and ways of doing business.ResponseSteve worked with several other people in the area to establish a Community Supported Fishery (CSF) model, which they hoped would help fishermen sell their catch at better prices among other benefits. The CSF model provides weekly shares of freshly Though he has made his living catching these crustaceans, Steve doesn’t like the taste of lobster!Steve used to fish with 1,400 traps until regulations reduced the maximum to 800 Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions (Continued)caught seafood to members who pay an initial fee at the beginning of the season. The experiment was not very successful. One of the reasons was that during the first year, most of the lobsters came early, and weren’t worth very much (soft shell lobsters have a lower value). However, those in the CSF had already set the price higher, expecting more mature lobsters with greater value. They had to adjust prices. Steve also says that one of the reasons the CSF did not work well was that lobsters are a luxury. “It’s like Ben & Jerry’s. It’s not fish, its not good for you.” Lobster is one of the first things that people stop purchasing during an economic squeeze. “[The CSF] was good the first year,” says Steve, “but nobody really came back the second year.”Steve has found that selling lobster off of his dock is very helpful, especially when the market price for lobster drops. He can usually charge a higher price for his fresh lobster, and cover more of his costs. Steve only sells what he catches, which he believes has helped build up a loyal customer base (some other lobstermen will buy lobster to resell if they haven’t caught enough).As far as the health of the lobsters, there isn’t much that Steve can do. There are regulations that prohibit use of pesticides close to a precipitation event, but many people disregard this. Steve has even taken it upon himself to remind neighbors not to spray, but says that the problem of chemicals in the water continues. Making a livingIs lobster fishing a viable livelihood? It can be. Steve learned to manage his finances from his father, who made a good living as a lobsterman and invested his money. Because the lobster season and market can vary so much from year to year, it is important for lobstermen to be able to maintain some type of financial buffer. Steve tries to invest money from the good seasons, and used to be able to deposit a couple thousand dollars every 2 weeks, although now he finds it more difficult to do so. “There are times in this business when you make money, hand over fist. It’s absolutely ridiculous,” says Steve. “And then there are the starving times. They seem to be longer now.”Steve says that this season looks to be a good one.Steve’s lobster landings vary significantly. During a good month in a plentiful year, he may catch up to 30,000 pounds of lobster. A bad month may be as low as a few hundred pounds.Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions (Continued)TMClimate Change and the New England Food System Case Study SeriesThis case study was researched and written by UNHSI’s 2014 Thomas W. Haas Climate Fellow, Ruby Woodside. Ruby’s fellowship focused on documenting and communicating climate impacts and adaptation strategies for New England farmers and fishermen. Ruby is currently working on a Masters of Environmental Science and Policy as well as an MBA in Sustainability at Clark University. The fellowship is based at the UNH Sustainability Institute, and hosted in collaboration with Food Solutions New England (FSNE). FSNE is a regional, collaborative network organized around a single goal: to transform the New England food system into a resilient driver of healthy food, sustainable farming and fishing, and thriving communities. Learn more at www.foodsolutionsne.org.107 Nesmith Hall, 131 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824 USA603.862.4088 ph | 603.862.0785 fax | www.sustainableunh.unh.eduResources:• Steve has found the University of New Hampshire to be very helpful when he has questions about new species or any changes he notices: http://www.seagrant.unh.edu• Steve has worked with researcher Diane Cowan at the Lobster Conservancy: http://www.lobsters.org/index.html• Another issue of concern for scientists and fishermen is the potential impacts of ocean acidification. This issue is one of the priorities of the Island Institute: http://www.islandinstitute.org/OceanAcidification.php• This document outlines some Best Practices for establishing a CSF: http://nsglc.olemiss.edu/csf-rg.pdf• This time series shows the rising sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Maine.References:1. Wake, C.P., E. Burakowski, P. Wilkinson, K. Hayhoe, A. Stoner, C. Keeley, and J. LaBranche, 2014. “Climate Change in Southern New Hampshire: Past, Present, and Future.” Climate Solutions New England Report, Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire. http://climatesolutionsne.org Accessed on November 10, 20142. Wake CP, E Burakowski, E Kelsey, K  Hayhoe, A Stoner, C Watson, E Douglas (2011) Climate Change in the Piscataqua/Great Bay Region: Past, Present, and Future.  Carbon Solutions New England Report for the Great Bay (New Hampshire) Stewards. http://www.climatesolutionsne.org/3. Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 2012. “Lobster Life Cycle” http://octopus.gma.org/lobsters/allaboutlobsters/society.html Accessed on August 1, 20144. Paredes, F. 2012. “Mitigating Invasive Sea Squirt Impacts to Shellfish in the Gulf of Maine” The University of Maine, Invasive Species Network http://umaine.edu/invasivespecies/2012/09/07/invasivesquirt/ Accessed on August 1, 20145. Griffin, N., McCaron, P., 2012. “Lobster bait issues await federal resolution” Maine Lobstermen’s Community Alliance http://www.mainelobstermen.org/pdf/newsletter/201210.pdf Accessed on August 1, 20146. Department of Marine Resources, 2013. “2013 Commercial Fishing Value Increases by More Than $2 million” State of Maine http://www.maine.gov/dmr/news/2014/2013Landings.htm Accessed on August 1, 20147. FishWatch: U.S. Seafood Facts, 2014. “American Lobster” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration FishWatch http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/lobster/species_pages/american_lobster.htm Accessed on August 1, 20148. Smith, TM, RW Reynolds, TC Peterson, J Lawrimore. 2008. Improvements to NOAA’s Historical Merged Land-Ocean Surface Temperature Analysis (1880-2006). Journal of Climate 21: 2283-2296Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions (Continued)

Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and
 Changing Traditions

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
The Sustainability Institute Research Institutes, Centers and Programs
1-1-2014
Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing
Traditions
Ruby Woodside
University of New Hampshire
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/sustainability
This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Research Institutes, Centers and Programs at University of New Hampshire Scholars'
Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Sustainability Institute by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars'
Repository. For more information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Woodside, Ruby, "Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions" (2014). Sustainability Institute Briefing. 40.
https://scholars.unh.edu/sustainability/40
Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and 
Changing Traditions 
Steve Lawrence is a lobster fisherman in Kittery, Maine. He grew up in the area, and has been lobster fishing his entire life, similar to his 
father before him. Steve’s son is learning the trade 
as well; he is already working through the Maine 
Lobster Apprentice Program to earn his commercial 
lobster license before his 18th birthday. 
Business
Steve fishes with 800 traps, which is the maximum 
allowed in Maine. He typically starts setting traps a 
quarter of a mile offshore, and continues for 15 miles. 
Steve currently sells his catch to Island Seafood, a 
local lobster distributor. He also sells fresh lobster at 
his dock directly to individual buyers.
Climate Impacts Seen
Steve notices that winters have been getting milder, 
with last year, 2013, being more of a typical Maine 
winter. “This past winter was the most normal winter 
we have had in the past 5-6 years. Two years ago, I 
don’t think it got cold at all.” Steve’s observations are 
supported by analysis of climate data, which shows 
that winter temperatures in the Durham, NH have 
risen almost 4° over the past four decades, more 
than in any other season.1
What does this mean for the lobster industry? 
Steve says that the lobster season has changed 
significantly. Traditionally people would start to put 
out traps in the early spring as soon as the weather 
began to improve. Then, during the month of June, 
they would take a break. This is because June was 
typically the month when lobsters would shed, and 
decrease activity. Adult lobsters molt, or shed their 
outer shell, about once a year in order to grow.2 
Several years ago fishermen started seeing softer 
lobsters (meaning lobsters that had just shed) in 
February and March. “That was a big joke,” says 
Steve. “We’re getting shedders in the winter-time 
now.” About 5 years ago, the lobsters also started 
shedding in deeper water. Whereas typically lobsters 
would move in to shallow water to shed, they now 
began to stay in the cooler waters offshore.
TM
Steve owns all of his equipment, and only has 2 more years to fully 
pay off his boat.
Sustainability Briefings are a collection of occasional essays, thought pieces, case studies and research briefings 
through which University of New Hampshire (UNH) faculty, staff and students can connect with larger audiences 
on the complex issues of sustainability. The collection is sponsored by the Sustainability Institute at UNH, a 
convener, cultivator and champion of sustainability on campus, in the state and region, and around the world. 
Learn more at www.sustainableunh.unh.edu.
“That pretty much changed the whole system, 
the whole cycle of lobster,” says Steve.  Both the 
time and spatial ranges of lobster cycles seem to 
be altered. Many of the lobsters that traditionally 
came in along the shore to shed do not come as far 
as they used to. They stay in deeper waters. Now, 
lobstermen can also catch lobsters in June, a month 
when traditionally there was no activity. “Everything 
is moved up three months.” 
Steve says that part of these changes may be due 
to increased water temperatures. One of the factors 
in determining lobster shedding is temperature; 
studies have shown that lobsters in warmer water 
temperatures grow faster.2 Interestingly, Steve has 
notice that this year, 2014, the lobsters have come all 
the way to the beach to shed. The year 2014 was also 
much colder than the past several years. This might 
explain why the lobsters moved to the shallower 
(and therefore warmer) waters. “They came in 
looking for the right temperature to shed. They came 
all the way this year to where they traditionally go.” It 
appears to Steve that the colder 2014 winter pushed 
the lobsters back to a normal trend. 
The seasonal unpredictability is a challenge for 
lobstermen. Catching lobster is mostly about timing 
and location of traps, says Steve. The actual methods 
and technology have not changed much over the 
history of the industry. Varying lobster movement 
makes it tricky for fishermen to know where to 
put their traps. For example, those who are fishing 
farther offshore this year are not catching anything, 
as most of the lobsters have migrated inshore. 
Evolving migration and shedding patterns may not 
be due solely to temperatures. Steve traces many 
of the changes back to a big storm and flood on 
Patriot’s Day in 2007. “This seemed to change the 
direction that the lobsters migrated,” says Steve. “It 
seemed to poison the bottom; the mud changed 
smell.” Since the flood, Steve and other lobstermen 
have noticed new species growing. For example, the 
barnacle and sea squirt population have exploded. 
Sea squirts are invasive filter feeders that attach 
themselves to hard surfaces, including gear like 
lobster traps.3 They can be especially damaging 
to shellfish farmers. Unfortunately, little is known 
about the conditions that drive sea squirt population 
increase.3
Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions (Continued)
The lobster industry in Maine has 
increased in recent years; the total 
landed value in 2013 is estimated 
at $364 million, which is $22 more 
than the previous year.5 In Maine 
alone there are well over 4,000 
active commercial lobster fishers.5  
New England leads the U.S. in 
lobster landings; in 2012 Maine and 
Massachusetts alone accounted for 
94% of lobster harvested.6
Mean annual sea surface temperature (°F) in the Gulf of Maine, 1887-2008. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) V3b ship and buoy observational gridded dataset using grids 
centered on 290E x 42N, 290E x 42N, and 292E x 44N Figure from Wake et al., (2011); data from Smith et al., (2008) 
Challenges 
The biggest challenge for Steve and other 
lobstermen is getting paid a fair price for their catch. 
Steve says that he has no way to predict whether 
or not it will be a good season; everything depends 
on the market price for lobster. He also says that 
many lobsters are sold at a set price before they 
are even caught; this may be through a dealer 
or a supermarket. This means that regardless of 
how many lobster are caught in a particular year, 
the fishermen have little control over how much 
they earn. Meanwhile, costs of lobster fishing have 
increased. Steve uses herring as bait for his traps, as 
do the majority of lobstermen. The herring that Steve 
buys originally come from Portland, ME. Herring 
prices have increased significantly in the last several 
years, in part due to a 2007 30% reduction in the 
quota allowed4 and concerns of overfishing. Steve 
remembers when the cost of a barrel of bait was 
$22, and compares it to today; he still gets the same 
price for his lobster, but bait prices are up to $75 a 
barrel.  Despite a booming lobster industry, many 
lobstermen are struggling for this reason. 
Use of pesticides also represents a problem 
for lobster populations, particularly as Kittery 
experiences increased development. Chemicals such 
as lawn pesticides and mosquito larva insecticides, 
when used close to the shore, tend to end up in 
the bay. These pesticides kill the lobster larva.  An 
interesting characteristic of the lobster industry is 
the time lapse between destructive events (such 
as a big storm or an influx of chemicals) and when 
impacts to population are felt. The animals that 
lobstermen catch are typically at least 7 years old, so 
the population decrease after a large death of larva 
may not be noticed for several years. 
Steve describes how the culture of lobster fishing 
has transformed over the years.  He has been 
fishing in the same general area his entire life, 
and traditionally lobstermen would respect the 
territory of fellow fishers. As a new generation of 
lobstermen takes to the waters, the unspoken rules 
and traditions seem to be changing. On top of the 
changes in ecosystem and weather trends, the 
lobster industry is experiencing an evolving culture 
from new attitudes and ways of doing business.
Response
Steve worked with several other people in the area 
to establish a Community Supported Fishery (CSF) 
model, which they hoped would help fishermen sell 
their catch at better prices among other benefits. 
The CSF model provides weekly shares of freshly 
Though he has made his living catching these crustaceans, Steve 
doesn’t like the taste of lobster!
Steve used to fish with 1,400 traps until regulations reduced the 
maximum to 800 
Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions (Continued)
caught seafood to members who pay an initial fee at 
the beginning of the season. The experiment was not 
very successful. One of the reasons was that during 
the first year, most of the lobsters came early, and 
weren’t worth very much (soft shell lobsters have a 
lower value). However, those in the CSF had already 
set the price higher, expecting more mature lobsters 
with greater value. They had to adjust prices. Steve 
also says that one of the reasons the CSF did not 
work well was that lobsters are a luxury. “It’s like Ben 
& Jerry’s. It’s not fish, its not good for you.” Lobster 
is one of the first things that people stop purchasing 
during an economic squeeze. “[The CSF] was good 
the first year,” says Steve, “but nobody really came 
back the second year.”
Steve has found that selling lobster off of his dock 
is very helpful, especially when the market price for 
lobster drops. He can usually charge a higher price 
for his fresh lobster, and cover more of his costs. 
Steve only sells what he catches, which he believes 
has helped build up a loyal customer base (some 
other lobstermen will buy lobster to resell if they 
haven’t caught enough).
As far as the health of the lobsters, there isn’t much 
that Steve can do. There are regulations that prohibit 
use of pesticides close to a precipitation event, but 
many people disregard this. Steve has even taken 
it upon himself to remind neighbors not to spray, 
but says that the problem of chemicals in the water 
continues. 
Making a living
Is lobster fishing a viable livelihood? It can be. Steve 
learned to manage his finances from his father, who 
made a good living as a lobsterman and invested 
his money. Because the lobster season and market 
can vary so much from year to year, it is important 
for lobstermen to be able to maintain some type 
of financial buffer. Steve tries to invest money from 
the good seasons, and used to be able to deposit 
a couple thousand dollars every 2 weeks, although 
now he finds it more difficult to do so. “There are 
times in this business when you make money, hand 
over fist. It’s absolutely ridiculous,” says Steve. “And 
then there are the starving times. They seem to be 
longer now.”
Steve says that this season looks to be a good one.
Steve’s lobster landings vary significantly. During a good month in 
a plentiful year, he may catch up to 30,000 pounds of lobster. A 
bad month may be as low as a few hundred pounds.
Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions (Continued)
TM
Climate Change and the New England Food System Case Study Series
This case study was researched and written by UNHSI’s 2014 Thomas W. Haas Climate Fellow, 
Ruby Woodside. Ruby’s fellowship focused on documenting and communicating climate impacts 
and adaptation strategies for New England farmers and fishermen. Ruby is currently working on a 
Masters of Environmental Science and Policy as well as an MBA in Sustainability at Clark University. 
The fellowship is based at the UNH Sustainability Institute, and hosted in collaboration with Food 
Solutions New England (FSNE). FSNE is a regional, collaborative network organized around a single 
goal: to transform the New England food system into a resilient driver of healthy food, sustainable 
farming and fishing, and thriving communities. Learn more at www.foodsolutionsne.org.
107 Nesmith Hall, 131 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824 USA
603.862.4088 ph | 603.862.0785 fax | www.sustainableunh.unh.edu
Resources:
• Steve has found the University of New Hampshire 
to be very helpful when he has questions about 
new species or any changes he notices: http://www.
seagrant.unh.edu
• Steve has worked with researcher Diane Cowan at 
the Lobster Conservancy: http://www.lobsters.org/
index.html
• Another issue of concern for scientists and 
fishermen is the potential impacts of ocean 
acidification. This issue is one of the priorities of 
the Island Institute: http://www.islandinstitute.org/
OceanAcidification.php
• This document outlines some Best Practices for 
establishing a CSF: http://nsglc.olemiss.edu/csf-rg.pdf
• This time series shows the rising sea surface 
temperatures in the Gulf of Maine.
References:
1. Wake, C.P., E. Burakowski, P. Wilkinson, K. Hayhoe, A. 
Stoner, C. Keeley, and J. LaBranche, 2014. “Climate Change 
in Southern New Hampshire: Past, Present, and Future.” 
Climate Solutions New England Report, Sustainability 
Institute at the University of New Hampshire. http://
climatesolutionsne.org Accessed on November 10, 2014
2. Wake CP, E Burakowski, E Kelsey, K  Hayhoe, A Stoner, 
C Watson, E Douglas (2011) Climate Change in the 
Piscataqua/Great Bay Region: Past, Present, and Future.  
Carbon Solutions New England Report for the Great Bay 
(New Hampshire) Stewards. http://www.climatesolutionsne.
org/
3. Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 2012. “Lobster 
Life Cycle” http://octopus.gma.org/lobsters/
allaboutlobsters/society.html Accessed on August 1, 
2014
4. Paredes, F. 2012. “Mitigating Invasive Sea Squirt 
Impacts to Shellfish in the Gulf of Maine” The 
University of Maine, Invasive Species Network 
http://umaine.edu/invasivespecies/2012/09/07/
invasivesquirt/ Accessed on August 1, 2014
5. Griffin, N., McCaron, P., 2012. “Lobster bait issues 
await federal resolution” Maine Lobstermen’s 
Community Alliance http://www.mainelobstermen.
org/pdf/newsletter/201210.pdf Accessed on August 
1, 2014
6. Department of Marine Resources, 2013. “2013 
Commercial Fishing Value Increases by More Than $2 
million” State of Maine http://www.maine.gov/dmr/
news/2014/2013Landings.htm Accessed on August 1, 
2014
7. FishWatch: U.S. Seafood Facts, 2014. “American 
Lobster” National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration FishWatch http://www.fishwatch.gov/
seafood_profiles/species/lobster/species_pages/
american_lobster.htm Accessed on August 1, 2014
8. Smith, TM, RW Reynolds, TC Peterson, J 
Lawrimore. 2008. Improvements to NOAA’s 
Historical Merged Land-Ocean Surface Temperature 
Analysis (1880-2006). Journal of Climate 21: 2283-
2296
Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions (Continued)


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Lobster Fishing: Shifting Cycles and Changing Traditions

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