eMOLT - Environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps
Program overview
Scientists and lobstermen working together
The eMOLT program is a collaborative environmental monitoring effort between marine scientists and lobstermen that has been collecting information about the Gulf of Maine since 2001. This information will help both lobstermen and scientists understand variations in water temperature and salinity. Both fishermen and scientists have noticed changes in the location of lobsters based on changes in bottom temperature. eMOLT data will help quantify these observations.
This program was developed by James Manning from the National Marine Fisheries Service's Northeast Fisheries Science Center and is funded by a grant from the Northeast Consortium.
Please visit the official eMOLT homepage
Lobstermen collect data
Lobstermen collect eMOLT data by attaching temperature and salinity probes to their lobster traps. The probes measure water temperature and salinity while the traps sit on the bottom. When the traps are brought in, the temperature and salinity data from the probes are downloaded to a computer.
eMOLT data is available over the internet
This website is a collaborative effort between GoMOOS and eMOLT to bring you environmental data collected by both of these programs. The Internet mapping tool found on this site allows you to see the location of GoMOOS and NOAA buoys and the approximate location of the eMOLT sites. We do not show the exact location of the eMOLT sites in order to keep these lobster trapping sites confidential. Using the map, you can select the data you are interested in and then create a graph to view the data. If you need help to graph the data click here.
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