DV-19-12 Alternative lobster bait attractant testing

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

November 14, 2019

Dr. Steven Jury
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine

Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) is the preferred bait for the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery. In an effort to increase herring recruitment and spawning stock biomass, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has reduced commercial landings, spurring interest in finding and testing alternative bait attractants for the lobster industry. Recently, researchers tested various attractants and evaluated their ability to catch lobsters compared to traditional bait methods (i.e. herring). These preliminary trials showed that two attractants with the most potential are green crab ‘extract’ (ground green crabs) and a feed attractant mixture (FAM) used for shrimp aquaculture.

The main objectives of this study are to manufacture baits that contain the two most promising attractants, test the attractability of these bait ingredients, and perform surveys using the baited traps in order to determine the level of efficacy of these attractants in comparison to traditional methods. The data collected from this study may inform the development of a more comprehensive study in the future.

Sea Grant Funds: $5,000