I am currently working on a short documentary in Maine and was lucky to meet with Diane Cowan,PHD. She was first described to me by Carl Wilson lead lobster biologist at the Maine Dept of Marine Resources as the ” Jane Goodall of Lobsters”. It was a rather foggy and rainy morning in Friendship when I drove into town. “Pick up a pizza at the convenient store it is under my name!” were the last few words I caught before my phone cut off as I lost signal driving on a windy road leading to the end of the peninsula.( Maine is somewhat of a giant hand with fingers launching towards the ocean.)
Maine did a lot of good for my mental health, cell phone coverage is very frustrating at first and then you understand quickly that if you (As a person “from away”) wish to stay and enjoy the beauty of such an amazing and unique place, you better play by Maine’s rules. After a few days of acclimatization I eventually fell for the native rhythm, which means accept that being out of reach is not a bad thing at all.
Huckleberry a gentle young and fun pound puppy was chasing around the dock trying to get a piece of bait that the lobster fishermen were unloading from a truck to plastic containers on the dock. Diane was wearing a navy blue Maine-rainproof outfit, “Pizza delivery!” I showed up with the steamy pizza and a stupidly light rain jacket.
Diane smiled with a “Hello Nico!” and whistled for Huckleberry to hop on the boat. The three of us started our short trip to what I now refer to the “Lobster Conservancy Haven”. Kind of the batcave for batman if Jane Goodal could have a batcave for lobsters not gorillas… makes sense right? In the mind of Frenchman it does!
Diane founded The Lobster Conservancy in 1996 with her vision of building a bridge to join all of those sharing the common goal of maintaining a strong and healthy lobster resource. She stands out as a research scientist and educator in the academic, government and non-profit sectors. Diane earned her Ph.D. from the Boston University Marine Program as a Presidential University Graduate Fellow in 1992. She taught as Assistant Professor at Bates College from 1992-1994. Diane served the State of Maine’s Department of Marine Resources as chief lobster biologist and leader of the Division of Biological Monitoring for the lobster, shrimp, herring and urchin fisheries during 1998-1999. In 1999-2000, Diane continued her studies as a Marine Policy Fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and in 2005 as a Senior Research Fellow. Diane continues her research as Senior Scientist at The Lobster Conservancy. Diane is the Principal Investigator for the Lobster Sonar Tracking Project and Juvenile Lobster Monitoring Program.
source:http://www.lobsters.org
Diane lives,breathes and thinks lobsters all the time, she is passionate and one of the most dedicated person I have ever met. In her own ways she is really the Jane Goodall of lobsters!
Long story short after a lovely walk around the island (where Diane conducts her research) and long conversations about conservation efforts and the state of our economy, non profits like the Lobster Conservancy are hurting, Diane needs our help! If you are web designer or have been involved in non profit work as a project coordinator or just want to help in any way shape or form, now is the time to rise contact Diane and help!
merci!
nico
