Feature Articles

Northeast Consortium approves cooperative research projects

This article is reprinted with permission of Commercial Fisheries News, the Northeast's fishing newspaper for over 30 years, ©2003 Compass Publications Inc. Commercial Fisheries News is published monthly; annual subscriptions are $21.95. To subscribe or request a sample issue: call (877) 263-4496; fax (207) 367-2490; e-mail (cfoster@fish-news.com); or click on the hot link.     by Troy Hartley     Northeast Consortium projects for FY 2002         New Cooperative Research Projects         Outreach and education in support of cooperative research projects         Project development awards     DURHAM, NH - In fiscal year (FY) 2002, $5 million are dedicated to cooperative research activities through the Northeast Consortium.     This time around, 18 new cooperative research projects have been approved and account for 62% of the funding for a total of $2,989,311. The money begins flowing to award recipients on or about July 1.     Additionally, cooperative research funds have been allocated to one new outreach and education project, one continuing cooperative research project, and two continuing outreach and education projects.     Northeast Consortium funds of $351,779 (5.9%) will be used by the University of New Hampshire (UNH) for administration and $189,914 (3.2%) will be used for UNH outreach.     The Northeast Consortium is committed to building cooperative research interest and capacity among fishermen and scientists throughout New England.     We are doing this, in part, through several outreach subcontracts. These include collaborative research outreach workshops and facilitation through the Gulf of Maine Aquarium, which is funded at $80,042, and the Massachusetts Fishermen's Partnership, which is funded at $32,373.     The consortium is also providing $60,875 in funding for the Collaborations newsletter and a research reporter at the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance. Approximately $100,000 is being used to fund cooperative research organizational capacity support through two fishermen's cooperatives.     Other funded items include: A cooperative research project database to make data and results publicly available over the Internet ($73,260); cooperative research fellowships to build additional research capacity ($55,400); and project development awards (approximately $160,000).     Additional costs include: UNH indirect charges ($125,636); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) administration ($80,000); and a NOAA budget cut ($62,960).     Separately, the Northeast Consortium is administering $1 million in right whale research funds in FY 2002.     Right whale research funds are kept separate from cooperative research funds and will be granted to support: four continuing projects costing a total of $656,339; and project development costing approximately $230,000.     Other costs under the right whale category include: UNH indirect costs ($79,000); NOAA Administration ($20,000); and a NOAA budget cut ($15,740).     After all project cost line items are finalized for both cooperative research and right whale projects, any remaining funds will be added to project development funds.     Troy Hartley is the executive director of the Northeast Consortium. The consortium is made up of the Sea Grant Programs of the University of New Hampshire, the University of Maine, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Northeast Consortium projects for FY 2002

New cooperative research projects     The Northeast Consortium has approved 18 new cooperative research projects, which account for 62% of FY 2002 funding, totaling $2,989,311. "Mapping Spawning and Hatching Grounds of the American Lobster" - Diane Cowan, The Lobster Conservancy; Andy Solow, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI); and Win Watson, University of New Hampshire (UNH). $260,000. "Environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps: Phase III" - Patrice Farrey, Maine Lobstermen's Association; Jim Manning, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); David Casoni, Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association; Bernie Feeney, Ocean Gold Seafood Inc.; Clare Grindal, Downeast Lobstermen's Association; David Sleeper, Spruce Head Fishermen's Coop; and Bonnie Spinazzola, Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen's Association (AOLA). $116,000. "Reduction of Bycatch and Discard in the Gulf of Maine Groundfish Fisheries: The Effect of Composite Mesh Codends" - Chris Glass, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences; Arne Carr; Vincent Balzano, F/V North Star; Russell Sherman, F/V Lady Jane; and Proctor Wells, F/V Tenacious. $197,085. "The Identification of Cod and Haddock Spawning Habitat Using Passive Acoustics" - Cliff Goudey, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); David Marciano, F/V Angelica Joseph; Rodney Roundtree, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth; and Proctor Wells, F/V Tenacious. $183,600. "Distribution and Abundance of Jonah Crabs, Cancer borealis, in the Near-Shore Gulf of Maine" - Carl Wilson, DMR; Larry Knapp, F/V Lady Esther; Oscar Look III, F/V Mary Lou & Kendra; Brian McLain, F/V Silver Bullet; Brent Oliver, F/V Jarsulan III; Robert Russell, DMR; Stanley Sargent, F/V Gale Warnings; Art Vuilleumier, F/V KEEP-AH. $128,371. "Intensive Study of the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area" - Raymond Grizzle, Mark Dowell, Michael Lesser, Larry Mayer, Andy Rosenberg, and Larry Ward all of UNH; and fishermen David Goethal, Peter Kendall, Craig Mavrikis, and Bob Hannah. $204,340. "Reducing Seabed Contact of Trawling: A Semi-Pelagic Trawl for the Gulf of Maine Shrimp Fishery" - Pingguo He, UNH; and George Littlefield, F/V Lady Regena. $107,234. "Reducing Cod Bycatch in Flounder Nets in the Gulf of Maine by Using Shallower Gillnets" - Pingguo He, UNH; and Mark Gauron, F/V Captain Al. $103,934. "Determining Groundfish Movement Patterns In and Around the Western Gulf of Maine Area Closure" - Hunt Howell, UNH; and David Goethel, F/V Ellen Diane. $134,243. "The Trophic Ecology of Atlantic Cod: Insights from Tri-Monthly, Localized Scales of Sampling" - Ted Ligenza, F/V Riena Marie; and Frank Almeida and Jason Link, Northeast Fisheries Science Center. $123,350. "An Assessment of Bottom Habitat Community Recovery in the Western Gulf of Maine Closed Area" - Cameron McLellan, F/V Adventurer; Joseph Kelley, University of Maine (UME); Laura Taylor Singer, Gulf of Maine Aquarium (GoMA); and Les Watling, UME. $168,896. "Abundance, Migration, and Recruitment of Northern Shrimp in the Gulf of Maine: An Industry-Initiated Verification Survey and Environmental Monitoring Pilot Project" - Dan Schick and Maggie Hunter, DMR; Vincent Balzano, F/V North Star Yong Chen, UME; Stanley Coffin, F/V Bad Penny; Lew Incze, Bigelow Lab; Dale Page, F/V Aaron & Sarah; Craig Pendleton, F/V Susan & Caitlyn; Kelo Pinkham, F/V Jeanne C; Laura Taylor Singer, GoMA; David Townsend, UME; and Lessie White, DMR. $319,999. "Fishing Vessel Survey and Migration Study of Coastal Herring Spawning Aggregations in the Gulf of Maine" - Don Perkins, GoMA; Matt Cieri and Kohl Kanwit, Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR); Barry Matthews, F/V Ocean Venture; Cameron McLellan, F/V Adventurer; Peter Mullen, F/V Western Wave; and Shale Rosen, GoMA. $205,985. "Portsmouth Fishermen's Cooperative: A Cooperative Partnership for Pelagic Ocean Ecosystem Monitoring in the Gulf of Maine" - Jeffrey Runge, UNH; and up to four co-op member fishermen to be named. $198,531. "Improving the Size Selectivity for Northern Shrimp Through Use of a Modified Nordmore Grate" - Dan Schick, DMR; Kelo Pinkham, F/V Jeanne C; and Lessie White, DMR. $107,994. "Maine-New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey" - John Sowles and Sally Sherman, DMR; Doug Grout, New Hampshire Department of Fish & Game; Don Perkins, GoMA; and Bob Tetrault, F/V Tara Lynn. $299,815. "Implementation of a Monitoring Program for the Atlantic Offshore Lobster Fishery" - Win Watson, UNH; and Bonnie Spinazzola, AOLA. $129,934. "Socioeconomic Impact Assessment Enhancement Project: Analysis of Impacts from Fishing Capacity Reduction" (continuing project) - Robert Robertson and Bruce Lindsay, UNH. $43,500.

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Outreach and education in support of cooperative research projects     In this category, funds have been allocated to one new outreach and education project, one continuing cooperative research project, and two continuing outreach and education projects. "Workshop on Trawl Selectivity and Conservation" (new project) - Pingguo He, UNH. $63,803. "Adopt-a-Boat: Commercial Fishing Vessels in K-12 Education" (continuing project) - Cliff Goudey, MIT Sea Grant; Dean Goodwin, Kimbel Union Academy; Craig Pendleton, North Atlantic Marine Alliance (NAMA); Bob Kohl, F/V Glenna & Jacob; and Cameron McLellan, F/V Adventurer. $262,360. "Marine Resource Education Project" (continuing project) - Mimi Becker and Andy Rosenberg, UNH; and John Williamson, independent consultant. $232,092. "Collaborations newsletter and a research reporter" (continuing project) - Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance (NAMA). $60,875.

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Project development awards     This is a partial list, additional announcements expected by the end of July. "Understanding the Habitat Consequences of Area Closures" - Cliff Goudey and Justin Manley, MIT. $25,000. "Saco Bay Scallop Stock Enhancement" - Craig Pendleton and Carla Morin, NAMA; and Stephan Zeeman, University of New England. $25,000.

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October 2003
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•	Retraining funding available for ME fishermen
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