The Local Fisheries Knowledge Pilot Project Through interviews with local fishermen and others in fishing-related activities, students explore connections between fisheries, the marine environment, their communities, and their own lives. Introduction The LFK Project is an education and outreach project developed by NOAA Fisheries to document and preserve the cultural, environmental, and historical knowledge of fishing communities while providing learning opportunities related to the marine environment. It is implemented by local educational institutions and community groups with Agency support. Marine fishing becomes an integrating theme for class instruction; the interviews become a learning tool. Local educators develop a place based curriculum to ensure relevancy of topics to students’ lives and communities. Project Goals  Create or increase students’ awareness and understanding of the marine environment by exploring their socio-cultural, economic, and ecological connections to it.  Promote learning and careers in marine science, management, and policy.  Equip students with skills to research and document the marine culture and history of their community.  Support learning across disciplines.  Engage students as partners in work that has purpose in the community and beyond.  Document and preserve local fisheries knowledge. The Pilot Schools and Communities Jonesport-Beals High School in Washington County and Ellsworth High School in Hancock County piloted the project throughout the , and are continuing in the school year. Approximately 175 students and 16 teachers participated during the first year. During the first year over 35 interviews were conducted by student teams, digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim for electronic storage, and key word content coded for inclusion in an online database available to the public. New England fisherman (1931). Photo: NEFSC. Young Jonesport, ME lobsterman (2004). Jonesport- Beals HS

Jonesport-Beals students interview the owner of a local fishing supplies business (2003). Photo: Linda Church. Place-Based learning Incorporates local issues into classroom activities and involves community members as partners in student learning. Participants in Maine conducted interviews to learn about: the former groundfish fishery in New England issues of fisheries management financial investments and risks in commercial fishing An Online Archive of LFK Interviews: The LFK Database is a web-based archive for LFK interview transcripts developed to provide public access to the student conducted interviews. It is searchable by keywords, locality, and interviewee demographics. Access it through the project website The database has potential to become a resource for information like the history and culture of fishing communities; attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs among fishermen; and historic ecological observations. Professional researchers and community groups are encouraged to archive their LFK interview transcripts starting in Community Involvement A local historical society, a watershed group, and other individuals became involved with each school to help the students carry out their LFK projects during the first year. Perceptions of NOAA Fisheries among adults in the pilot communities improved in some ways as a result of their involvement. Increasing awareness of personal connections to the marine environment Ellsworth: Ellsworth: Students discovered the community’s past contributions to fishing and maritime trade through ship building. They also learned about the role of local seafood processing facilities in the local economy. Jonesport-Beals Jonesport-Beals: Students learned about their communities’ vulnerability to fluctuations in the lobster population and market. Many local businesses are tied to the fishing industry. Students interviewed owners of fishing supplies stores, seafood processors, and restaurateurs. Photo: Jennifer Sepez. A meeting of the Jonesport Historical Society (2004). Membership grew from about 5 when the students started the project to over 135 by the end of the first year. Photo: Linda Church. The pilot project was developed and sponsored by NOAA Fisheries, coordinated and implemented in partnership with the Rural School and Community Trust. Project Contacts: NOAA Fisheries: Susan Abbott-Jamieson Susan.Abbott- and Jennifer Isé Rural School & Community Trust: Julie Bartsch