Environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps Annual Report

The objective of eMOLT Phase V is to demonstrate that New England lobstermen can contribute to the region’s integrated ocean observing systems. It is hoped that, given the eventual development of a “realtime ” temperature probe (which would telemeter bottom readings via satellite communication each time the trap is hauled on deck), lobstermen around the region could collectively deliver data on a regular basis. While the development of this technology is slow and a usable probe is still not available, a few small steps have been made by local engineers so that this idea is closer to fruition. Ultimately, it is hoped that a probe will be developed and the data will be transmitted to a NOAA server and posted on the web. Methods and work plan: Since the technologies are still under development, much of the work involves testing the functionality of the various probes. While the probes undergo extensive evaluations in the laboratory, exposing them to the marine environment is the ultimate test. Lobstermen help in this regard by providing inexpensiv