Eastern Maine Skipper’s Program Kicks Off Its Year Long Green Crab Project on Hurricane Island
Skipper’s Program students are conducting “real-world” research that researchers and regulators can use as they seek to sustain the fisheries component of the coastal economy, which is critical to Downeast communities.
On September 28th and 29th, forty-one students from six coastal and island high schools (Deer Isle-Stonington, George Stevens Academy, Vinalhaven, North Haven, Narraguagus and Mount Desert Island) gathered on Hurricane Island in Penobscot Bay to kick-off the second year of the Eastern Maine Skippers Program (EMSP) and their collaborative, year-long project addressing the question, “How can the impact of the green crab population be controlled in a way that conserves the marine ecosystem and encourages new industry?” The day and a half program was organized and hosted by the Hurricane Island Foundation with additional staff support from Penobscot East Resource Center and the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The event introduced students to the green crab issue in Maine and was jam packed with hands-on activities from learning about field sampling techniques to developing a marketable product made from green crabs to discussing elements underlying effective group work and communication.
“This event provides the students with an opportunity to connect in-person, fostering a generation of fishermen who know how to collaborate and communicate with each other despite being from different homeports,” said Alice Anderson, Hurricane Island Science Educator.
Before beginning field work students worked with Alice Anderson, Noah Oppenheim, a graduate student at the University of Maine, School of Marine Sciences, Carla Guenther, Lead Scientist at Penobscot East Resource Center and Les White from the Maine Department of Marine Resources to identify different sampling techniques that could be used in assessing green crab abundance in the intertidal zone.
“I liked that we could go in the field and gather data for a project we designed instead of using somebody else’s data from a textbook. Doing hands-on learning makes you want to do the work more,” said Elliott Nevells, a 9th grade student at Deer Isle-Stonington High School and EMSP participant.
On Sunday afternoon, students worked with peers from other schools to create an edible dish from green crabs. This activity provided students the opportunity to explore the potential for developing marketable products made from green crabs. Prior to the taste-testing contest, each group delivered a pitch describing their product, how it was made, who they were marketing it to, and the asking price.
“Events like this that bring students and future fishermen together from six coastal high schools are a great way to leverage the traditional knowledge and expertise that exists in our fishing communities in a way that will help our students learn the skills needed for any option they choose after high school- both college and career.” – Todd West, Deer Isle-Stonington High School Principal.
For more information about the Eastern Maine Skippers Program, visit https:// sites.google.com/a/dishs.org/msp/eastern-maine-skipper-s-program. For more information about Penobscot East Resource Center, visit www.penobscoteast.org. For more information about the Hurricane Island Foundation, visit www.hurricaneisland.net.