Collaborative Interdisciplinary Research for Understanding Bycatch in the Maine Lobster Fishery
Yong Chen and Christine Beitl
School of Marine Sciences, Dept. of Anthropology, 91±¬ÁÏ
In this seminar, Chen and Beitl will discuss their research on bycatch, the incidental catch of non-target species, which represents both an ecological and social problem in fisheries management. The decision of fishers to keep or discard bycatch caught in a targeted fishery is based on a fisher’s knowledge, understanding, and attitudes about the non-targeted species and their perceived insights about potential survivability of discarded fish. Bycatch is a widespread problem in fisheries management and its causes are complicated. The team will discuss their cooperative approach involving the participation of practitioners, policy makers, NGOs, and fishers.