Doormats that Give Back

Not to worry, I'm not straying from my fish theme. Honest. Read on, you'll see.

(photo from The Maine Float Rope Company)

Historically, Maine lobstermen have used float-rope to tether together multiple traps on the ocean floor. 

Unfortunately, this float rope sometimes entangles whales, typically leading to injury and death (of the whales). So, not too long ago, new regulations (seems Maine's fisherpeople are often dealing with new regulations that change the way they do their work) were put in place that require lobstermen to replace float-rope with sink-rope. Good idea, for the whales, at least.

But, what about all that no-longer-in-use float rope? We're talking about hundreds of thousands of pounds of rope.

Well, thanks to the clever-ness of Maine-r Penny Johnston, all that "wasted" rope is getting put to good use--doormats! The Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation purchases the turned-in-float-rope from Maine lobstermen (this gives financially-strapped lobstermen both an incentive to switch out their rope, and a little welcome financial relief). Then, Ms. Johnston's company, The Maine Float Rope Company, collects the rope and turns it into colorful and virtually indestructible doormats. All from the coast of Maine!

Now, this is a doormat you can feel good about. It is cool-looking; recycled; indestructible--and it was created out of rope that is no longer putting whales at risk. If that isn't enough to sell you, you'll be happy to know that a portion of the proceeds from the doormats are given to organizations that benefit Maine's lobstermen and whales.

Man, Maine-rs are such clever people. Seriously.