HYANNIS – The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association’s Annual Weekend and Industry Trade Show is underway in Hyannis.
The free event at the Resort and Conference Center kicked off yesterday and runs through Sunday.
“We have 50 vendors coming from the region – anyone from local nautical artisans, and also marine suppliers, trap dealers and engine dealers,” said Beth Casoni, the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association executive director.
The event will also feature several government agencies.
“We have a full slate of seminars on everything from whales to the health of the industry,” Casoni said.
Governor Charlie Baker will also be in attendance for a Banquet and Awards Ceremony Saturday evening.
“We have a full slate,” Casoni said. “It’s a big annual social for the industry here in New England.
The event also includes family activities, giveaways and raffles, cooking demonstrations and a silent auction.
The show began Thursday night with a screening of the documentary “Lobster War.”
The award winning film details the conflict between the United States and Canada over waters both countries have claimed since the end of the Revolutionary War.
The 277 square miles of disputed sea, known as the Gray Zone, was traditionally fished by US lobstermen. As the Gulf of Maine has warmed quicker than most other bodies of water on the planet, the zone’s previously modest catch has surged.
As a result, Canadians have begun to assert their sovereignty in the area, fighting with Americans to the claim the catch.
Seminars kick off on Friday with Marine Debris at 9 a.m. The Northeast Regional Coordinator of NOAA’s Marine Debris program Demi Fox will provide an overview of the debris problem in our waters, regional efforts to remove and prevent debris and opportunities for lobstermen to get involved.
Michael Chambers from the School of Marine Science at the University of New Hampshire will present Integrated Multi-Tropic Aquaculture Research, Outreach and Training for Coastal Communities in New England at 10 a.m. Friday.
Representatives from Orsted US Wind and Vineyard Wind companies will discuss the progress of offshore wind energy projects planned for waters off the coast of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
After the presentation, attendees will have a chance to talk with fishermen from the Holderness Fishing Industry Group in the United Kingdom who live and work in and around the Westermost Rough wind farm off the coast of Scotland.
Another featured seminar on Friday is Protecting Right Whales While Sustaining Commercial Lobster Fishing at 1:30 p.m.
The panel will discuss the ongoing conservation efforts to protect the critically endangered whales species which has an estimated population just over 400.
The discussion will include ongoing research and potential management changes to reduce interactions with right whales and fishing rope changes moving forward.
Offshore wind will be the topic of the first seminar on Saturday at 9 a.m. Projects off the coast will soon begin construction and uncertainty remains on how fisheries resources will be impacted by the installation, operation and decommissioning of wind turbines and power cables.
The seminar will focus on the potential ecological effects of offshore wind energy development and the current research underway to monitor the effects.
The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association Annual Membership Meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Another highlight on Saturday is the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, MA Environmental Police, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and National Marine Fisheries Roundtable at 2 p.m.
There will also be a children’s activity room Friday and Saturday night.
For a complete schedule visit lobstermen.com.
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