In Hot Water: Maine’s Iconic Lobster Fishery, Endangered Whales, and Their Intertwined Fate in a Warming Gulf

The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99% of the ocean. 

In this episode of In Hot Water, Maine, we learn more about the state's iconic lobster fishery, dive deeper into the plight of the endangered right whale, and understand how the present and future of these critically important species are so intertwined.

There’s no quick fix for seafood harvesters in the Gulf, but climate solutions do exist. From encouraging species diversification to actively involving frontline communities, changemakers are leading a new path for seafood in Maine.

Produced by Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE) and Seaworthy, the “In Hot Water” podcast explores SEAFOOD and CLIMATE JUSTICE in distinct regions.

Episode Guide

• :00 Intro to In Hot Water, Maine Edition
• 01:47 Meet Afton Vigue, former communications and outreach manager at the Maine Aquaculture Association, a nonprofit trade association representing commercial aquatic farmers in Maine from shellfish to finfish to seaweed farmers; from land-based to marine-based operations
• 02:38 Lobsters are moving; how climate change is playing a role in Maine’s changing lobster fishery
• 06:26 Meet Jesse Baines, the former chief marketing officer at Atlantic Sea Farms, a woman-run, mission-driven seaweed aquaculture company based in Maine
• 08:15 Getting real-time information from fisheries is critical when developing solutions to address climate-related challenges
• 09:54 How is the lobster fishery adapting to climate change and the economic implications
• 15:53 Other effects of climate change? Not only are lobsters moving to colder waters, but it’s a huge driver in the distribution and abundance of right whales and copepods, their critical food source
• 22:58 Climate change is at the root of the decline of endangered species
• 24:58 A quick recap of the legal situation surrounding Maine’s lobster fishers, regulatory bodies, and next steps to generate better data towards realistic regulations of the fishery
• 27:32 Dr. Tora Johnson, professor of environmental studies and geography at the University of Maine, Machias published a book in 2005 called Entanglements: The Intertwined Fates of Whales and Fishermen. Since she wrote this book, some things have changed, some things haven’t, but it’s clear that solutions are not lying about and everyone will need to change.
• 46:12 How regulations are set and by whom creates many challenges, including extreme stress for harvesters, fishing families, and communities

Resources

1. 1. Recommend this series to anyone who enjoys seafood and is curious about how climate change is affecting our seafood-producing regions.