Summary of Alewife Harvesters Focus Groups
J. Cournane
Jamie Cournane and Christopher Glass, University of New Hampshire
In Collaboration with
Jeffery Pierce and the Alewife Harvesters of Maine Board of Directors
Freshwater
Coast
Ocean
International
Local
States
Federal
The purpose of the study was to conduct focus groups with
Maine fishers on their experiences in alewife fisheries.
Focus Group Meeting Locations and Times
Saturday
January 12
1-4 PM
East Machias
Town Office
Saturday
January 19
1-4 PM
Eastbrook
Charlie L. Yeo
East Brook
Community
Center
Saturday
January 26
1-5 PM
Warren
Town Office
Benefits of participating in the study
The direct benefit of this research was the collection of focus
group participant knowledge in order to provide an important
baseline understanding of alewife fisheries in Maine.
The benefit to the community is the collective wisdom and
experiences of the harvesters.
In addition, results from focus group meetings will be useful
for planning purposes by AHM.
Focus Group Questions
1) What happened at your alewife run this year?
Have you seen any changes in the run?
2) Are you involved in any research projects?
If so, do you have any project updates?
3) In your opinion, what are your most immediate
needs for your run?
4) In your opinion, what do you think AHM should be
doing?
Focus Group Questions
1) What happened at your alewife run this year?
Have you seen any changes in the run?
2) Are you involved in any research projects?
If so, do you have any project updates?
3) In your opinion, what are your most immediate
needs for your run?
4) In your opinion, what do you think AHM should be
doing?
What AHM should be doing
All: Continue its efforts and….
Machias
Eastbrook
Warren
- Improve fish passage
- Help revise sustainable harvest plan
- Help create flexibility in harvest plans
- More outreach
- Market product
- Help open more runs to harvest
- Improve education and outreach
- Market product
What AHM should be doing
All: Continue its efforts and….
Machias
Eastbrook
Warren
- Improve fish passage
- Help revise sustainable harvest plan
- Help create flexibility in harvest plans
- More outreach
- Market product
- Help open more runs to harvest
- Improve education and outreach
- Market product
What AHM should be doing
All: Continue its efforts and….
Machias
Eastbrook
Warren
- Improve fish passage
- Help revise sustainable harvest plan
- Help create flexibility in harvest plans
- More outreach
- Market product
- Help open more runs to harvest
- Improve education and outreach
- Market product
What AHM should be doing
All: Continue its efforts and….
Machias
Eastbrook
Warren
- Improve fish passage
- Help revise sustainable harvest plan
- Help create flexibility in harvest plans
- More outreach
- Market product
- Help open more runs to harvest
- Improve education and outreach
- Market product
What AHM should be doing
All: Continue its efforts and….
Machias
Eastbrook
Warren
- Improve fish passage
- Help revise sustainable harvest plan
- Help create flexibility in harvest plans
- More outreach
- Market product
- Help open more runs to harvest
- Improve education and outreach
- Market product
Thank you!
Focus Group Participants
Towns of Machias, Eastbrook, and Warren and our hosts
Alewife Harvesters of Maine Board of Directors
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Foreign Affairs Canada, Broad Reach Foundation
Karen Hutchins (UMaine), Robin Alden (PERC), Jake Kritzer (EDF) , and Theo Willis (USM)