The apprenticeship initiative allows all lobstermen who enter the industry a chance to understand this ITQ system and its importance in sustaining the resource. This is necessary because Maine lobstermen need to know the ability of this system to save their livelihoods. Many lobstermen already do some form of apprenticeship, whether it be working as a deckhand for an established lobstermen or simply learning from their experience. All lobstermen that led such apprenticeship programs would be great regulators of the industry, since their ability to teach the newcomers would directly impact the industry. The newcomers would have to learn the ways of the system, since without the education they would not be accepted into the communities that lobstermen in Maine have. This education would greatly increase the ability of the ITQs to conserve the lobster as well as make the Maine lobster industry less congested. Apprenticeship would also mean limited entry, another way to lessen the numbers of lobsters hauled. This system keeps alive the tradition of Maine lobstering, since it is a form of passing down the knowledge of every lobsterman to the incoming ones. There would be state guided education in addition to the on-site training, again increasing the understanding of the newcomers.
It is imperative that Maine lobstermen get a firm grasp of the intricacies of this new policy in order that it function properly. State held informational sessions would allow Maine lobstermen to ask questions and have them answered. These sessions would be taught by a combination of scientists, government officials, and lobstermen themselves. By making all groups a part of the process, everyone would be satisfied that there is no interest forgotten or misrepresented. It would also give credibility to the people who teach the sessions and thus make the first step of the program, education, work well. Experts could show the zone management councils how their cooperation in implementing the system is key to it working. By keeping communication open between government officials, lobstermen, scientists and economists, there would be a shift from the skepticism of many to a new method of efficient conservation, saving the state money and the lobstermen time and effort.
Be Sure to Continue to Page 8 of "How Economic Incentives Can Help the Maine Lobster Industry (Part 2)".
