Billy Haas is a lobster fisherman, commercial urchin diver, and scallop diver. He has been involved in these activities for about fifteen years. His daily schedule varies throughout the year. He works for ten months and takes two months off, usually during May and June. During the slow period, he prepares for lobstering, which begins at the end of June. In the winter months, when weather conditions are unfavorable for lobstering, he focuses on diving for urchins and scallops. When lobstering, Haas uses various types of bait such as herring, cowhide, bull skin, pigskin, fish heads (red fish, flounder, cod, and hake), and very little farm livestock skins.

Scope and Content Note
Billy Haas talks about his career as a fisherman. He primarily uses wire lobster traps, which are made of 12.5-gauge steel mesh covered with plastic. Haas can fish up to 800 traps per year and has replacement tags to account for lost traps. Haas owns a 35-meter cove boat with a 600-horsepower diesel engine, which he uses for his fishing activities. Haas sells his catch locally, with most of his lobsters going to Canadian buyers and some to local buyers and processing plants in Southern Maine, Portland, southern New England, Boston, and New York. Scallop sales are mainly local, and sea urchins are primarily sold to Cambodians, although some native buyers also purchase them. For scalloping and urchin diving, certification courses for both divers and tenders (people who assist the divers) are required by the state for safety reasons. Haas mentions the possibility of future certifications for boat driving and navigation, although they are not currently mandatory. He sometimes participates in boat races during the summer, and he has won his class for three consecutive years. Billy’s children often accompany him on lobstering trips in the summer, and they enjoy the experience. The amount of lobsters and scallops caught each year varies, but Haas estimates catching between 75,000 to 100,000 pounds of lobsters and 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of urchins. Lobster prices fluctuate throughout the year, but they significantly contribute to the economy in the Downeast area of Maine. Haas dives for urchins using a catch bag and a stainless-steel rake. The urchins cling to rocks and ledges, and the process of collecting them can vary in difficulty. Red tide, a phenomenon caused by certain bacteria or algae, does not significantly affect Haas's fishing activities, although it can impact mussel and clam harvesting. Haas is currently permitted to fish within three miles of the Maine coast, but he plans to expand his fishing range as he acquires a larger boat and gains more experience. Lobsters are caught in the shallower waters during the lobsters' migratory route, and they tend to shed their shells there. Finally, Haas discusses his fishing activities, the types of catch he targets, his boat, sales, and the impact of lobstering on the local economy.