Collaborative Research
Partnering Fishermen & Scientists to Drive Solutions
Since our inception, MCFA has provided an important bridge between scientists and the needs and knowledge of Maine’s fishing industry. We help fishermen connect with researchers to ask and answer questions about the changes that they are seeing out on the water and to create opportunities to optimize fishing practices. We lead and support a growing number of collaborative research projects. Often, this research gives fishermen early opportunities to test and provide input to refine fishing gear designs and accountability solutions, like video-based monitoring and ropeless buoys. Most importantly, it engages fishermen as true partners and active participants in the science that may impact their fishing operations.
Temperature Sensor Network
Understanding the Gulf's changing ocean conditions from the deck of a fishing vessel
We engage fishermen to collect ecosystem data during their normal fishing operations. MCFA is currently leading a project in collaboration with Ocean Data Network, The Nature Conservancy, and twenty Maine and New Hampshire fishing vessels to collect bottom temperature and dissolved oxygen data in offshore areas. Early anonymized data from this effort can be accessed through the Fisheries Ocean Data ERDDAP.
Black Sea Bass Community Science
Documenting a shifting fishery from the water
Black sea bass are moving northward as ocean temperatures warm, and Maine fishermen are among the first on the water to notice. Because traditional survey methods undercount this species, MCFA teamed up with Manomet and local fishermen to build a fishermen-generated dataset documenting black sea bass presence in Maine waters. Fishermen submit photos and catch details via a simple mobile survey, capturing where, when, and how these fish are encountered. This information can help inform future management decisions and support a sustainable and potentially expanding future fishery in Maine.
Gulf of Maine Bat Acoustics
Listening for bats across the Gulf to fill critical data gaps
Did you know that Maine has eight species of bats, and they’re often sighted out on the water? MCFA partners with the GoMBat Research Program led by the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) to document bat occurrence and activity over coastal and offshore waters. Using ultrasonic acoustic detectors deployed on fishing vessels, we can capture high-frequency bat calls to identify when and where bats are present. This work fills a major knowledge gap about bat movements and habitat use in the Gulf of Maine and helps inform wildlife conservation and planning efforts, particularly as offshore activities like wind energy development expand. Fishing vessels are ideal “mobile labs” for this research, as fishermen are often working when bats are out, during dawn and dusk.
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A silver haired bat rests on a boat off Jefferies Ledge.
