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As signs of spring arrive throughout the region, now might be a good time to get those young people into their life jackets and out on the water.<\/p>\n<\/b>Maine young people living on the coast \u2013 many with parents who are active fishermen \u2013 are excited to be out on the water, following in their parent\u2019s footsteps, having their own boats, traps, and income.<\/p>\n
I talked with a number of them recently at the Maine Fishermen\u2019s Forum in Rockport.<\/p>\n
As signs of spring arrive throughout the region, now might be a good time to get those young people into their life jackets and out on the water.<\/p>\n
Informal education about how to run the boat and be vigilant \u2013 as well as how to set, haul, bait, and offload \u2013 can obviously be a valuable introductory experience for any young person.<\/p>\n
Several years ago, Maine established an apprenticeship program in the lobster fishery that enables young people to work toward a fishing license. The program was extended last year to include folks up to age 23.<\/p>\n
This program incorporates both informal and formal education.\u00a0 The informal education consists of 1,000 hours working with licensed fishermen over a minimum of two years.\u00a0 The formal education component is made up of a mandatory US Coast Guard drill instructor course and the requirement that the aspiring fishermen be full-time students until high school graduation or GED is achieved.<\/p>\n
Anyone seeking to be in the apprentice program after high school must be enrolled at least 50% of the time in a post-secondary program.<\/p>\n
This set-up helps ensure that future fishermen are well-acquainted with fishing practice and the safety and regulatory aspects of fishing.<\/p>\n
As a result of the schooling requirements, they also have an academic background that they can apply to fishing, the business of fishing, or that can help them transition to a different sector of the economy in the future.<\/p>\n
Recently, a new program was initiated under the auspices of the Center for Maine Coastal Fisheries, formerly known as Penobscot East Resource Center (PERC).<\/p>\n
Eight fishing community high schools in Maine now offer the Eastern Maine Skippers Program, an academic program that runs parallel to the standard high school curriculum and meets the state standards for high school content.<\/p>\n
Through a project-based approach, students interact with fishermen, scientists, industrial, and community mentors to learn about the marine environment, the \u201cbusiness\u201d of fishing, and the importance of collaboration and leadership in this challenging and rapidly-changing industry.<\/p>\n
According to Paul Molyneaux, the coordinator for the program, the following projects are ongoing this year:<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Vinalhaven \u2013 growing kelp on longlines in Carver Pond;<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Deer Isle\/Stonington \u2013 designing a low-impact shrimp beam trawl;<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 George Stevens Academy \u2013 comparing the wild scallop harvest with scallop aquaculture;<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Ellsworth High School \u2013 modeling a seaweed biofuel industry on the coast of Maine;<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Mount Desert Island \u2013 testing water quality and collecting data on smelt returns;<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Narragaugus \u2013 making a documentary comparing scallop diving and scallop dragging; and<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Jonesport-Beals \u2013 developing a growout system for Arctic surf clams that also traps green crabs.<\/p>\n
The students will present the results of these projects on May 25 at a public event at the Grand Theatre in Ellsworth.<\/p>\n
To learn more visit <http:\/\/grandonline.org<\/a>\/>.<\/p>\n This inspiring and innovative program has the breadth and depth that allows young fishermen to become articulate about the challenges of fishery management, the concepts of coastal stewardship, and to gain confidence in their ability to work collaboratively.<\/p>\n In the words of Molyneaux, \u201cThis program develops leaders that will help ensure that Maine\u2019s fishing communities remain economically healthy because the marine environment is ecologically sustained.\u201d<\/p>\n The Eastern Maine Skippers Program is privately funded through a grant from the J.T. Gorman Company.\u00a0 Additional funding has been provided by foundation funding from the Betterment Fund, the Long Cove Foundation, the Eaton Foundation, by an additional grant from the Maine Lobster Research and Development Fund, and through financial and in-kind contributions from individuals and corporations.<\/p>\n Additional information is available at <www.coastalfisheries.org<\/a>>.<\/p>\n Ann Backus, MS, is the director of outreach for the Harvard School of Public Health\u2019s Department of Environmental Health in Boston, MA.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2022 BUY a Single PRINT edition of CFN that is delivered by MAIL.\u00a0PRINT EDITION<\/a> \u2022 Quickly enjoy ONLINE access with our Hi-DEF flip-book.\u00a0<\/strong>PURCHASE THIS ONLINE EDITION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 \u00a0Shop the\u00a0Online ARCHIVE<\/a><\/p>\n (Read online flip-book immediately with purchased access key and download a copy for yourself to keep. \u00a0Not sure if it works for you? Try a\u00a0FREE SAMPLE HERE<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/CFN-5-17-cover-122x150.jpg\")
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