Connecticut Sea Grant Fisheries Extension

CTSG Extension Projects in Fisheries

Lobster Extension
The lobster extension program was initiated in 2000, following the massive mortality of lobsters in Long Island Sound during the fall of 1999, due to an as-yet unexplained cause. It is a joint effort of the Connecticut and New York Sea Grant Extension programs, serving as the liaisons between the research community and the lobster industry, facilitating the Lobster Mortality Research Steering Committee activities and actions, organizing and hosting the annual LIS lobster health symposia, and keeping the public informed as to the status of the lobster resource and the progress of the lobster research efforts.

Regional Fish Gear Mapping Project
This regional project is a collaboration between the Sea Grant programs of the Northeast and the fishing industry, led by MIT Sea Grant. The goal of the project is to develop a GIS database of fixed and mobile gear fishing areas and boundaries based on data obtained from commercial fishermen in the Northeast. The data will be integrated into map products that will be useful to resource managers and fishermen in developing and assessing the extent and impact of fishing activities and fisheries management policies, with the goal of helping to achieve sustainable fisheries while minimizing the associated economic effects. Lobsterman Michael Theiler is working with CTSG Extension on this project, collecting data from fishermen in Connecticut.

Lobstermen fill bait bins in Stonington, CT

Regional Fisheries Educational Workshops

Regional Fisheries Educational Workshops

The Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Connecticut Sea Grant Programs, with the involvement of the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, sponsored a series of fisheries educational workshops through 2004 covering a number of issues felt to be related to current fisheries management issues in the New England region. Educational workshops have centered on the following topics:

* Bycatch problem in New England fisheries
* Marine protected areas as they relate to fisheries management
* Rights-based fisheries management

A total of twelve workshops were held; one on each topic in each of the four states. The workshops were organized around presentations and case studies from both local and outside the region speakers . The workshops were intended to stimulate dialogue among individuals and agencies with a stake in the fisheries and fishery management. A written report and the presentations are available for each workshop at the fisheries website hosted at URI:

Regional Fisheries Web site

Extension Initiatives in Fisheries

Connecticut Seafood Council Support
The Connecticut Seafood Council, established in 1997, has seven appointed industry board members, an Executive Director, and four agency ex officio members, including CTSG Extension. The Council is a membership organization with the purpose of serving as a collective voice for the commercial harvest and aquaculture industries on issues of concern, and to aid in the promotion of Connecticut seafood. CTSG Extension staff serve as the editor of the Council’s semi-annual newsletter, Seafood News, are taking over the responsibility for design and maintenance of the Council’s web site, and take an active role in Council activities.

Seafood Council board members present the first shad of the season (CT's State Fish) to legislators at the Capitol.

Web sites of Interest
Long Island Sound Lobster Health Sea Grant Fisheries Educational Workshops Regional Sea Grant Fish Gear Mapping Project Connecticut Seafood Council

Connecticut Sea Grant College Program
University of Connecticut - Avery Point
Marine Science Building
1080 Shennecossett Road
Groton, Connecticut 06340-6048
Telephone (860) 405-9127
Facsimile (860) 405-9109

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This Page Updated on March 26, 2008