Lobsterman Records Whale Rope Losses

by Brenda Tredwell

Documentation of trap loses by Roger Chipman between June 1, 2012 and January 2013. The loss of rope, tags, buoys, and re-rigging are a few of the additional business loses when a trap is lost to a parted line. Brenda Tredwell Photo

Roger Chipman of Birch Harbor, Gouldsboro has been losing lobster gear and keeping records. “I was losing a lot of traps and other guys had an idea in their about what they lost,” said Chipman. Since June 1, 2012 he’s kept a ledger recording losses due to frayed neutral buoyancy rope. The records are written down in ballpoint pen, he can pull up figures for any given day. Chipman kept track of where he hauled on any given day.

“Here on the 6th day of June, I lost 7 traps. Lost 7 traps first day of July. Lost 120 traps  since the first day of June to January 13. Just the lost traps alone cost $ 9,840.00 - the rope alone added up to $ 3,600.00.“  Chipman’s ledger accounts for lost and recovered gear. Losing a trap also means lost lines and tags, sometimes a buoy. The time, and gas spent looking for where you thought you had a trap are another part of the cost.

Chipman said, “I never used the 7 /16th rope,  but I do now – thought it would be the cure. They make 3-strand and 4-strand, but neither one of them works.”

When you step into his otherwise squared away shop over snarls of coiled, frayed Polysteel and Everson rope, you’re counting dollars laying on the floor. Lines that parted before the color faded out of it looks brand new, save for cut ends. Chipman said it took 12 coils of 7/16th neutral buoyancy rope at $ 200.00 a coil to replace the rope he had, never mind replacement tags and lost traps. The initial cost to re-rig all his gear to neutral buoyancy rope was $ 2,400.00

“I guarantee, I’ll lose  6 to 7 traps, next time I go out. Lots of rocky bottom. Jonesport – Beals, it’s got to be scary what they lose. Certain rope fits certain people in the area they fish. Like mud or hard bottom. Inside or outside a harbor,” said Chipman.

 

Parted sink rope. Regulations mandated the use of sinking rope to replace traditional float rope. The result has been a measurable economic cost to fishermen from more lost gear. The cost of large quantities of ghost traps and rope in the fishery habitat has yet to be calculated by regulators. Brenda Tredwell Photo

Chipman winter fishes, doesn’t fish inside – as he puts it.

“I fish more on the edges,” said Chipman, “but you haul that up – it’s all small rocks.” He’s out there all year. Like many  Hancock, Island-based and Washington County lobstermen he hauls through winter conditions – off rocky bottom. The longer the set, the worse it is. Gear shifts in strong currents, doing a number on the rope.

Chipman said, “When you have to replace rope 2-3 times a year, it adds up quick.” Chipman figures Lobstermen in certain areas, especially deeper water lobstermen, are most affected by losses due to rope regulations, because of the fishing terrain. Hard bottom chafes and cuts lines. These lobstermen, like others, complied with all rules involving whale safe rope and were conscientious about preservation. Chipman said it doesn’t matter at what strength the manufacturer rates the rope, it’s the fishing environment – currents, water depth, bottom – that determine lifespan and expense.

“I’ll tell you another thing. This neutral buoyancy rope will pull the runners off traps. Now, I solved the problem by putting a piece of automobile tire onto the runner.” The rubber he’s wrapped along portions of traps protects the rope – which has a tendency to hang up gear – from pulling off trap runners. When you lose runners, traps go right to the bottom. There’s going to be more danger surrounding lost traps, than whales...”

Chipman said he drove down to Ellsworth. They bought back his rope. “I put this Everson rope on in November – 4 strand – that’s gone to pieces.” continued Chipman. The girl picking it up agreed lost traps are going to be an issue. “I don’t know of any sink rope that doesn’t fray on bottom,” said Chipman. “I can’t believe this many traps are gone.”

Some rope is salvageable – but many lobstermen can’t trust splices to hold, and in order to protect gear, tags and traps, they buy new rope. “This one here, I was lucky, that came through the hauler. Usually the rope snaps, it all (the gear) goes back to the bottom.”

Pat Faulkingham of Winter Harbor mentioned that Dave Myrick lost 21 traps in one day, off a 30-trap trawl. “$70. (cost of a trap) times 21,” said Faulkingham, “that’s  $1400 dollars – in one swoop.”  Myrick lost all but a couple pairs off the tail.

Myrick said he has lost 40 traps since Fall, but knows guys who lost 90 on bottom – in storms. “They part off a lot – right at the end. About 2 traps in trawl rope, sinking rope wears out so fast.”  Myrick mentioned 8 lobstermen who lost way more than he did, then said about the rope, “It’s dangerous, too. It travels around the boat more, it snarls. It doesn’t coil as good from the hauler.”

Dan Whittaker of Gouldsboro said most of his gear losses are on  trawls. He added, “It’s been brutal this year. Up until this year, I hadn’t lost much gear.” He started gear work this summer, splicing or buying new rope. Whittaker said, “My boy (Ethan) went to 9/16th  rope, a little excessive, he bought a pallet of it at Friendship Trap, the only 9/16th gauge rope sold in the state of Maine.” The rope can only be used on trawls, but it’s protection.

Other lobstermen feel regulations are killing more than they’re saving – it’s damaging the bottom.

Cappy Sargent of Millbrige  said, before outfitting with regulation rope, it cost $ 1,500 for 1,000 lbs. of rope. Now, it’s $ 4,000.” He buys pallets rather than coils. A pallet of half-inch runs $ 2.30 /lb. “You lose gear, you lose end lines, anchors,” said Sargent. “Down at Cape Cod some places have just as much tide as we do. Sand chafes the rope pretty bad.”

“Guys are losing a lot more gear. Multiply it out, it’s not one boat doing it – it’s hundreds.”

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