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Biological Monitoring and Assessment Division

David Libby, Director

 

 

 

(photo by Judy Angsten)

The Biological Monitoring and Assessment Division is responsible for the collection of information and long-term monitoring programs on commercially important marine resources and their fisheries.

Landings data are collected for all Maine commercial marine fisheries.

Detailed catch, effort, and biological data are collected from fishermen along the entire coast of Maine for assessment and management of the American lobster, northern shrimp, green sea urchin, and Atlantic herring. Samples are processed for length, weight, sex, state of maturity, gonad weight, and age composition.

Studies are conducted on other species including the groundfish complex, sea scallops, ocean quahogs, Jonah crabs, green crabs, and sea cucumbers. 

Fishery-independent surveys are conducted to assess juvenile lobsters, northern shrimp, and sea urchins.

Data from these studies are used in fishery stock assessments and for fishery management decisions. Scientists participate extensively with other state and federal scientists in interstate and federal stock assessments, technical committees, and plan development teams in order to provide scientific information for fishery managers.

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