Underwater in Salem Sound Lecture Series

Beverly’s Ghost Gear Challenge: A Winter Recovery Mission

Speaker:  Capt. Peter Dickman, Beverly Harbormaster 

Talk Description 
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. 

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. 

Speaker Bio: 

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. 

For the past fourteen years, Underwater in Salem Sound has been jointly sponsored by Salem Sound Coastwatch and Abbot Public Library. All the lectures are free and open to the public. Upcoming lectures will be on April 15 and May 20.

For more events and to register in person, please visit abbotlibrary.org/events.