PORTLAND, Maine — June 24, 2013 — Maine anglers are being asked to take photos of the striped bass they catch this summer in the name of science.
Coastal Conservation Association-Maine and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute are collaborating on a project called ‘‘Snap-A-Striper’’ to collect data about the fish. Stripers are popular among recreational fishermen along Maine’s coast.
The groups are asking the fishermen to take photos of the fish next to data cards that contain information on the angler’s name, the date and catch location. The cards also serve as measurement tools to determine the fish length.
Participants are asked to email the photos to the research institute, where scientists will compile the information to gain a better understanding of the origin of striped bass in Maine and help improve fisheries management. Catches have dropped sharply in recent years without a clear understanding of why.
Scientists say they don’t fully understand the relative contribution of stripers that spawn in Maine’s Kennebec River watershed compared with fish that migrate from more southern spawning populations.
Read the full story at The Boston Globe