History of eMOLT
In response to the growing demand for improved lobster science and the need to establish long-term data sets, members of the Maine lobster industry established the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation (GOMLF) in 2000. During the past ten years GOMLF has managed and administered over 20 projects geared towards improving the science, management and sustainability of the resource. With a Board of Directors made primarily of lobstermen and a direct line to fishermen who are willing to collaborate, GOMLF is able to communicate directly with the lobster industry on issues they see facing the fishery.
Some of our projects such as eMOLT (Environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps) was started over 15 years ago and lobstermen are still using lobster traps to collect bottom temperatures from their original sites. At the same time over the course of 3 years GOMLF has collected over 2 million pounds of floating groundlines in order to help lobstermen comply with federal regulations. We have increased the number of collaborators through our various projects and continue to reach out to other organizations who look to the lobster industry as a wealth of information about the Gulf of Maine marine ecosystems.
GOMLF has operated out of the same small office for 10 years and will continue to do so in order to maintain our low overhead costs. We take pride in all the work that has been accomplished in the past and look forward to continuing into our 11th year of collaborative research with lobstermen, scientists and managers within the Gulf of Maine.