Archives for worm diggers

Coastal Conversations 4/26/19: Marine worms, economy and ecology of two little known species

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

College of the Atlantic senior Kaitlyn Clark completed 19 interviews with worm harvesters, dealers and others involved in the marine worm industry (the state’s fifth largest fishery). On today’s show, we share audio clips from six of those harvesters and dealers who, with help from Clark, cover the following topics:
1. What are marine worms, where do they live, and why should we care about these critters?
2. How are worms harvested, what gear is used, how do wormers know where to find them, and what knowledge have they gained about worm ecology and movements?
3. What are the issues that worm harvesters are faced with today, including coastal access to mud flats, land-owner relationships, fisheries management, and the opioid epidemic.

Guests:
Kaitlyn Clark, Undergraduate Researcher at College of the Atlantic
Donnie Bayrd, bloodworm digger and dealer from Milbridge
Fred Johnson, bloodworm digger from Steuben
Johnathan Renwick, bloodworm digger from Birch Harbor
Derek Crocker, bloodworm and sandworm digger from Deer Isle
James Arsenault, sandworm digger from Dresden
Ken Webber, sandworm digger from Ellsworth

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