Markets & Economic Development Community Leadership Downeast Groundfish Initiative Hatchery Outreach and Education

We have an abiding commitment to public education on fishing and fisheries issues; our outreach takes many forms and operates at different levels. With the opening of our new building Summer 2010 we significantly increase our educating capacity and  as a means to connect with the public and also a broader base of community non-profit and business organizations.

FISHERMEN’S ROOM

We have designated a 200 square foot space exclusively for Stonington and Deer Isle fishermen. This a room, abutting the public education space from which they can observe weather conditions, drink coffee and use computers provided expressly for their purposes. It will be open most days from sun up to sun down. Beyond encouraging fishermen collegiality and making a statement of inclusivity, this room will increase our contact with the community we serve, and also facilitate computer literacy and general fisheries information awareness.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

We will now have room for a permanent public education and exhibit space, 20 by 17 feet; very visible from the water with entrances both water-side and road-side. We perceive a strong need to educate locals and visitors alike about the issues confronting the Maine fisheries industry and the marine science underlying the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. The facility will enable us to expand our interaction with community schools at all grades.

CONFERENCE ROOM FOR COMMMUNITY USE

Another key feature of our carefully designed interior is a large (636 square foot) conference room which will make it possible to host community meetings without having to rent additional space. This conference/meeting room will undoubtedly attract non-profit groups that have shared space with us already: Island Heritage Trust, Maine Clammer's Association, Oceanville Seafood, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Island Grower's, Stonington Working Lobster Group, Stonington Fisheries Alliance, Community Supported Fisheries, numerous other impromptu fishermen's gatherings (to discuss bait, rule changes, floating rope etc.)

COLLEGE INTERN PROGRAM

An arrangement with college of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor enables us to provide educational experience to selected undergraduates. Students from COA have worked in the Lobster Hatchery on the CFAR program and on various aspects of DEGI.  In 2010 we also welcomed an intern from Duke University, who is working on a master’s degree in Coastal Environmental Management at Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment. Penobscot East is one of very organizations that can supply appropriate professional experience through our DEGI CSF, sector management and sentinel fishery operations.

HATCHERY IN SCHOOLS

Young children are exposed to concepts of sustainability and some basic lobster biology through our hatchery in schools program in the surrounding school districts.[ More information can be accessed through the header in the right column.]

TALKS AND LECTURES

Penobscot East has developed recognized expertise in several key areas that related to community organizing, fisheries policy and fisheries management. Ted Ames, Robin Alden and DEGI director Aaron Dority are increasingly in demand to speak at community meetings both locally and further afield on Ted’s research and on fisheries and fisheries management issues.

This January, Ted Ames and Aaron Dority have spoken on fisheries to an audience at Schoodic Education and Research center organized by Friends of Acadia. In May, Robin, and Aaron spoke at “Fishes & Loaves” for an environmentally conscious church group on MDI at St. Saviors who are promoting sustainability and local food production. This February, Ted Ames presented his latest research to an audience at Mote Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida. In April he spoke at Woodlawn, (The Black House in Ellsworth) Throughout the year, we plan to screen the Fishing Voices video in regional venues to trigger discussions and conversations about our programs, e.g. We are collaborating with Hancock Towns In Transition/Sierra Club/The Grand to present our video at The Grand, Ellsworth this August and follow it with a panel discussion with Penobscot East representatives about our groundfishery.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED FISHERIES

Both the shrimp CSF and COMMUNITY FISH raise community awareness of our role advocating for eastern Maine fishing communities.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

We generally participate in relevant community events where our values and mission align with the organizers and where we have something to contribute. Our work is always promoted at the annual Fishermen’s Forum, (co-founded by our Executive Director) where we also provide speakers on key current issues.

We contribute information booths at World Oceans Day in Oceanville and Fishermen’s Day in Stonington and Blue Hill Foliage, Food & Wine Festival.  This spring we played a key role in developing the Downeast Fisheries Trail - a project under the aegis of a University of Maine Seagrant that will draw attention to the regions important fisheries history.

In April we joined the Eat Local Foods Coalition of Maine at “By Land and By Sea: Connecting Maine’s Farming & Fishing Communities” which seeks greater co-operation between farmers and fishermen. We taught youngsters lobster biology and demonstrated shrimp peeling at Deer Isle Winterfest, and promoted our CSF work at MOFGA/Maine Council of Churches CSF/CSA fairs in Belfast and Bangor. These are all opportunities to interact with the public and advertise our work and we anticipate more appearances at regional events which are promoting locally grown sustainable food practices as our CSF activities garner increasing attention. We are also seizing an opportunity to present our story this summer at a new Educational Museum currently being developed in downtown Bar Harbor, expected to open July 4^th.

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Our staff participates in the Deer Isle/Stonington High School Marine Trades program.  Research is underway to explore the feasibility of introducing an educational module based on our adult CFAR program for coastal high school students.[ More information can be accessed through the header in the right column.]