While
overfishing threatens fish stocks in many parts of the world, Maine's
lobster population keeps on growing. It's all thanks to a few simple
measures that ensure adult males and females get plenty of opportunity
to meet, and reproduce.
Rush hour starts early
in Boothbay Harbour. Newcomers to this little town in Maine are woken
by diesel engines at half past four in the morning. It is not the roar
of trucks but a low throb and thrum.
After a while it is reassuring, restful - the sound of the lobster boats heading out.
They
are not large - about 35 feet long (around 10 metres), some crewed by
their owner alone, most with one hired hand, the stern-man.
They stream out in the morning and come home in the evening, like city commuters.
But
the lobsterman's commute is more impressive - past rocky islets, under
ospreys nesting on marker poles, surprised by seals suddenly alongside,
porpoises and sometimes mighty whales.
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