9284 Environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps (eMOLT) Project Published / External 23145 Oceans & Climate Branch (OCB) Project On Going The eMOLT project is a non-profit collaboration of industry, science, and academics devoted to monitoring of the physical environment of the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, the Southern New England shelf, and the Mid-Atlantic Bight. In a series of phases funded by the Northeast Consortium, Sea Grant, the Integrated Ocean Observing System, the National Science Foundation, the Maine Broadreach Fund, and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, low-cost strategies have been developed to monitor the environment. While the primary variable is bottom temperature, we have recently expanded our monitoring capabilities to include temperature profiles and bottom dissolved oxygen. Working with over 100 commercial fishing captains from Maine to North Carolina, we deploy low-cost environmental loggers on commercial fishing gear. We hope to extend our existing multi-year time series (as well as our monitoring capabilities), continue integration with the Northeast Regional Association for Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS), and contribute to whatever operational systems are developed for our region in the future. Data collected through the eMOLT program are used by a variety of stakeholder groups including: 1) The fishermen themselves -- fishermen use data collected from their loggers and model outputs informed by these data to make fishing decisions on the water 2) Oceanographic modelers -- realtime data are assimilated into a number of ocean forecast models on a daily basis including Doppio (Rutgers), the Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System (UMass Dartmouth), and several National Ocean Service products 3) Fisheries scientists -- eMOLT data have been used in the American Lobster stock assessment and are under consideration for use in other stock assessments such as Black Sea Bass and Longfin Squid. Fisheries managers with Maine Department of Marine Resources, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game also make use of the data. 4) Other researchers -- scientists at research and academic institutions including the University of Maine, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, St. Francis University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have also made use of eMOLT data in different types of research ranging from fisheries science to AUV piloting algorithms. Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords DOC/NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC > Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords IOOS > Integrated Ocean Observing System, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > OXYGEN Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category oceans Temporal Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Temporal Data Resolution Keywords 1 minute - < 1 hour Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords 1 km - < 10 km or approximately .01 degree - < .09 degree Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords Point Resolution Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > CAPE COD Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GEORGES BANK Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MAINE Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > LONG ISLAND SOUND Stratum Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Vertical Data Resolution Keywords Point Resolution Northeast Fisheries Science Center Woods Hole MA USA Program Ground Condition -78 -66 45 34 Unclassified ERDDAP https://erddap.emolt.net/erddap/info/index.html?page=1&itemsPerPage=1000 Metadata about vessels is only available to vessel captains, owners, or others with a data sharing agreement with the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation AOLA Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen's Association CCCFA Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance CCS Center for Coastal Studies CFF Coonamessett Farm Foundation CFRF Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation GOMLF Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation MALA Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association MELA Maine Lobstermen's Association ODN Ocean Data Network eMOLT Environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps and Large Trawlers 2025-05-05 Maynard, George Does eMOLT just work with lobstermen? Although the eMOLT program initially worked exclusively with lobstermen, we now work with vessels in almost every fishery in the region using a variety of mobile and fixed fishing gear. 2025-05-05 Maynard, George What data are made public? We provide location and environmental data to scientists. On request, we will also provide information about the sensor used to collect the data. We do not make vessel information, gear type, or contact information public. Fishermen are always allowed access to all data collected aboard their own vessel and can share it with whomever they wish. 2025-05-05 Maynard, George What does it cost? We provide the instruments and data free of charge to our fishing industry partners. Data are made publicly available free of charge. The eMOLT program is supported by grants and Federal funding through the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2025-05-05 Maynard, George Why participate? Better understand subsurface conditions on your fishing grounds by seeing data in near real time Join an active community of fishermen and researchers working together to learn about the ecosystem in our region Know that you’re contributing data to ocean forecast models that help improve maritime safety and Coast Guard Search and Rescue Operations The eMOLT Program has existed for nearly three decades. Our team is committed to improving oceanographic and fisheries science in our region and committed to keeping your data collection system running for as long as you’re willing to participate. 25149 Data Set gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:9284 Kathleen Mays 2009-05-06T13:25:50 SysAdmin InPortAdmin 2026-08-19T18:33:20 2025-05-05 Northeast Fisheries Science Center NEFSC 166 Water Street Woods Hole MA 02543-1026 USA (508)495-2000 https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday 1001 Public No 2025-05-05 1 Year 2026-05-05