It is very common for lobster traps to be lost. The buoy line can be cut by a propeller, cut by a knife, or parted in a storm. Lost lobster traps are known as "ghost traps."
Too many lobster and crabs were dying in the lost lobster traps. Lobster men and trap makers knew something had to be done. They needed some way to allow lobsters and crabs a way out if the trap was lost forever. They had to find a way that a portion of the trap would rot or disintegrate in a short enough time to allow the catch to escape safely before it died. Beginning January 1, 1990, all lobster traps had to be equipped with a biodegradable ghost panel.
They came up with something that would be at the parlor of the trap, and would rot off in time. Before 1970, traps were made out of oak which lasted many years without rotting. One of the lathes could be made out of a softer kind of wood, such as pine which would rot away in less than a year.
In the 70's, the wire traps were invented. More people were using the wire traps than the wooden ones. This was a dilemma because they still needed a way for the lobsters to escape. A new invention called a plastic escape vent was designed to be used as a ghost panel as well. Instead of using stainless steel rings to hold the vent in place, the inventor used non-stainless steel hog rings which would disintegrate within 6 months allowing the vent to fall away and thus double as an escape vent and a ghost panel.
In 1979, Pike Bartlett, who lives in Friendship, Maine invented the escape vent ghost panel for the new wire traps that were being built. It took him a year to figure out a way to make this vent. He had to find the right materials to use, figure out where to attach it, and so on. The very first one turned out to be white, and made out of plastic.
The ghost panel comes in two main shapes; round, and rectangular. It mainly depends on the area you lobster in to know what shape you want. Although many different panels are sold, the most common ones are the plastic rectangular ones.
As time goes on, they are improving on the ghost panel. They are making it easier to remove (which makes it easier to change the size), and make it closer to the floor (which helps the lobster and crabs get out without so much hassle).
The size opening for the ghost panel in the state of Maine is 4.5" by 6".
The process that trap makers and lobster men have to go through to install a ghost panel is not complicated at all. All you have to do is follow these two simple steps:
1.) Cut a hole in the parlor of the trap big enough for the panel to fit in.
2.) Using disintegrating hog rings, attach the ghost panel to the hole in the trap.
Ever since the ghost panel has become a law, not as many lobsters are dying. The lobster men, and trap makers believe the ghost panel has played a significant part on this. They think this because it seems like just as many lobsters are being caught . A lot of people are very happy with the way this great invention has changed the outcome of the population of lobsters.
escape vent - a device made to let little lobsters and crabs out of the trap, so the trap is not over-flowing with useless lobsters and crabs
ghost panel - a device made to let all lobsters and crabs out of traps lost forever
lathes - the wooden bars found on wooden traps
lobster - crustacean of the genus Homarus americonus
lobster traps - device used to capture lobsters and crabs
parlor - the part of the trap that the lobsters and caught for good
pine - a type of wood that is soft
oak - a type of wood that is hard
buoy - a floating device to mark the placement of one or more traps
propeller - a device on the stern of a boat to thrust it in any direction
hog ring - a metal ring that can be clamped closed to hold things together
1.)American Lobster Fishery. [online] available. http://www.wh.whoi.edu/ro/doc/lobster1.htm
2.) Bartlett, Pike. Personal Interview. 1998
3.) Brooks Trap Mill. Personal Interview. 1998
4.)Compilation of Lobster Laws and Regulations.[online] available. http://www.state.me.us/dmr/bmp/regs/lobster.html
5.) d'Entremont, Carol. Personal Interview. 1998
6.) Johnson, Beverly. Personal Interview. 1998
7.) Johnson, Stephen. Personal Interview. 1998
8.)Made in Main Lobster Trap Kit. [online] available. http://www.cybertours.com/~daytontrap/