Join us in person the third Wednesday of each month for our Meetings at the New England Aquarium
Meetings start at 6:30pm, but Members often meet at The Broadside for dinner prior
(Use main NEAq entrance:
Meetings are upstairs on 2nd floor in the Cafe or Howland conference room)
Can’t make it in person? Join us virtually on Zoom! (See Zoom registration buttons below)
Guests are welcome to attend meetings in person or on Zoom to learn more about the Club
May 20
In Person (& ZOOM) Beverly’s Ghost Gear Challenge: A Winter Recovery Mission with
Capt. Peter Dickman, Beverly Harbormaster
Lobstering has shaped the North Shore for centuries, transforming lobster from “poor man’s food” into a valuable commercial fishery and a core part of the region’s maritime heritage. As fishing gear evolved from wood to long-lasting wire, new challenges emerged. Lost or abandoned lobster traps can persist on the seafloor for decades, continuing to capture marine life in a process called ghost fishing. This derelict gear harms habitat, affects fisheries, and is a growing concern in harbors worldwide. Learn how you can help with the problem locally!
Harbormaster Peter Dickman will explain how recent changes in maritime law have made it possible for coastal communities to address this issue and will present plans for the Beverly Harbor Derelict Trap Recovery Project. Funded through a Fishing Trap Removal Assessment and Prevention program grant from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the project will use scuba-based recovery operations over two winter periods to locate, remove, and document abandoned traps, improve marine habitat, and support sustainable reuse or recycling of recovered materials. Learn about this collaborative effort to protect marine life, support sustainable fishing, and honor the working waterfront tradition.
Capt. Peter Dickman has served as Harbormaster for Beverly, Massachusetts, since July 2022 and is a lifelong mariner and Beverly native. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and a Master 100-ton Merchant Mariner Credential. Capt. Dickman has hands-on experience in maritime safety, vessel operations, and local waters management, and will be spearheading a derelict fishing trap recovery project in Beverly Harbor. A dedicated environmental steward, he unites local divers, fishermen, students, and organizations to protect and restore the harbor, creating lasting benefits for the marine environment.
