Welcome

Mission of Our Lab

Our mission is to better understand the state of commercial fisheries in Maine, particularly as it relates to the well-being of fishermen households and their communities. We believe that commercial fishermen are experts, and that their opinions and experiences needs to be heard. As researchers, we are committed to using our skills to collect information necessary to monitor important socioeconomic indicators, and make summaries of that information available to inform management and policy conversations.

Current Projects

Annual Lobstermen Survey

Tracking lobstermen’s perspective on stock health, management, and their economic well-being

This is a survey of commercial lobster license holders in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, designed to collect information of recent experiences with the Gulf of Maine lobster stock and the economic well-being of your household and fishing businesses. Our goal is to build a dataset that will remain relevant to conversations surrounding lobster management. 

Semistructured interviews with lobstermen and other stakeholders

In the summer of 2023, we embarked on a project to interview lobstermen across the state as well as marine patrol officers and coop employees. The results of these interviews gave us much insight into the challenges lobstermen are facing and the successes and obstacles to enforcing conservation and other regulatory measures.

About Us

Amanda Lindsay, Assistant Professor of Economics, Bates College
Amanda Lindsay, Assistant Professor of Economics, Bates College

Amanda earned a PhD in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California at Davis. Her research interests center on the well-being of fishermen, and understanding how management affects their operations and the welfare of their households and communities. An outdoor enthusiast, she has enjoyed exploring the mountains, waters, and islands of Maine with her family. 

Cait Cleaver, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Colby College
Cait Cleaver, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Colby College

Cait Cleaver earned her PhD in Ecology and Environmental Science from the University of Maine. She is an interdisciplinary researcher trained in qualitative social science and applied marine ecology. Her place-based research focuses on supporting adaptation within commercial fisheries, aquaculture and coastal communities. Part of a lobstering household, she loves spending time on the ocean and exploring Maine’s islands and coast. 

Mike Rocque, Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean of Faculty
Mike Rocque, Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean of Faculty

Michael Rocque earned his PhD from Northeastern University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Professor Rocque is from Augusta, Maine and attended the University of Maryland for his Master’s degree. His research interests are criminological theory, racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and desistance from crime. As a native Mainer, he has long been interested in the sociological aspects of lobster fishing. 

Contact Information

Lobster Traps

We are committed to applied research, which means we are interested in your concerns and want to answer your questions. Please feel free to reach out over email.