Author Talk and Book Signing: Christopher White "The Last Lobster: Boom or Bust for Maine’s Greatest Fishery?”

Description

In the last five years, Maine lobstermen have annually caught more than 120 million pounds, six times what was caught annually in the 1980’s. But can this last? Join author Christopher White as he explores Maine’s lobster industry at the Jesup Memorial Library on Thursday, June 21 at 7 p.m. for an author talk and book signing for “The Last Lobster: Boom or Bust for Maine’s Greatest Fishery?”
 
“The Last Lobster” is a detective story, where scientists and fishermen explore what is causing this increase in lobsters off the Mane coast. The two theories that stand out are a sudden lack of predators and a recent wedge of warming waters, which may disrupt the reproductive cycle, a consequence of climate change. However, these same factors that may have stimulated the boom could prove to be its undoing. Ominously, the range of lobsters is moving northward, as it is for many marine species affected by climate change.
 
Over the course of a year, White follows three lobster captains—Frank, Jason, and Julie—as they haul and set thousands of traps off the coast of Stonington and fight a warming ocean, volatile prices, and rough weather to keep their livelihood afloat.  “The Last Lobster” is a celebration of the lobstermen of Maine and a warning that the recent boom and the possible coming bust could be stark lessons for all of us who live in a world of climate change.
 
Booklist writes that “The Last Lobster” is “an in-depth look at the state’s most significant fishery [...] Lobsters are intrinsically linked to the soul of Maine, and White’s thoughtful chronicle gives both the highly desired marine crustaceans and the people who seek them their due.”
 
Christopher White is a science writer and naturalist has written numerous books, including “Skipjack: The Story of America’s Last Sailing Oystermen” and “The Melting World: A Journey Across America’s Vanishing Glaciers.” His articles have appeared in Audubon, The Baltimore Sun, The New Mexican, National Geographic, and Exploration.  Early in his career, White was a staff biologist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, specializing in maritime issues. He also served as Executive Director of the Mare Nostrum Foundation, a Belgium-based ocean policy organization. He grew up on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.
 
Books will be on sale that night courtesy of co-sponsor Sherman’s Books and the talk is co-sponsored by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust.
 
For more information on White visit christopherwhitebooks.com and for more information on the talk contact the Jesup at 207-288-4245 or mrice@jesuplibrary.org.