Net Worth: The Rise & Fall of Maine's Fisheries

TEST Net Worth: the Rise and Fall of Maine’s Fin Fisheries follows stories that have been intrinsically enmeshed in bringing the Gulf of Maine fisheries to their current state, and that will be evolving in new directions if there are to be viable fisheries in the future.

Through models, photographs and plans, this exhibit will establish ‘portraits’ of Maine fishing vessel types, onshore and offshore, sail and power. Negotiations are underway to facilitate visits to the MMM waterfront of fishing vessels, both historical and present-day, including the Grand Banks schooner BLUENOSE II.  Fishing gear from the MMM collection will be on view, including a Banks dory with full 19^th century gear. Net types and handling gear will be on view inside and out, incuding a full size trawl net, and purse seine. Net technologies of the future will be previewed with scale models of new gear designs that reduce by-catch, and underwater tow-test video. Archival photography and video of groundfish trawling, herring seiners, weir fishing, and tuna fishing will be running, as well as current fisheries related film productions that approach new aspects of management, science, and marketing vital to future fisheries.