Looking for a fun activity to do with family or friends this August? Interested in learning more about the current effort to remove millions of lost lobster traps currently in Maine's waters and along the shore? OceansWide’s "Vinalhaven in-water/seafloor and land-based marine debris removal and recycling demonstrations" is happening during the month of August. 

On Friday, August 14, Buzz Scott will give a joint presentation with Pete Nichols at 7 p.m. to explain the progress OceansWide has already made for marine debris removal along the coast of Maine and its goals for future expansion. The presentation will be at Vinalhaven's Pleasant River Grange, 579 Round the Island Road.

Then, on August 16, a family-friendly educational experience on Vinalhaven will take place, and occur each Sunday after for two weeks: August 23 and 30.

There will be demonstrations on the steps OceansWide is developing for a smooth close-quarters process to remove hundreds of traps along the northwest shore of Carvers Harbor. 

Work will begin at Bean's Lobster floats next to the ferry terminal. As more traps are removed, the work will continue up the harbor to Hopkin's Boatyard. Divers will remove trash traps from the northwest side of the main harbor area seafloor, and the traps will be loaded onto a boat.

Once filled, the boat will transport the traps to the town wharf to offload them onto a trailer. From there, they will be transported to Frank Thompson's Ice Wharf in Sand Cove, wherethe process of demolishing, recycling and logistics of moving the traps off the island will be explained.

The OceansWide crew welcomes help. They will be operating each Sunday throughout the month of August from 9 to 110:30 a.m. and again from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

For questions or more information, contact Arleigh Kraus arleighakraus@gmail.com