Indeed, these are weird times. Maine’s 4,500 independent owner-operator lobstermen are navigating what feels like never-before-experienced conditions of uncertainty. Tradition is something that this industry values deeply and credits for much of its success. While … Continue reading
Category: PeopleIn late January, the Lobster Institute hosted the annual Canada/US Lobster Town Meeting, held for the first time during the winter in Moncton, New Brunswick. Coming off a big 2019 in the lobster sector, the … Continue reading
Category: Business & EconomicsMaine lobstering communities are waiting with great anxiety to learn the outcome of two court cases related to North Atlantic right whale protections. Each case has the potential to fundamentally change how lobster fishing is … Continue reading
Category: Whales“We can’t afford to be passive.” That was the message from Machias Savings Bank president Larry Barker concerning the suite of court cases related to North Atlantic right whale protections that could decimate the Maine … Continue reading
Category: MLA NewsFirst published in National Fisherman, April 21. Reprinted with permission. It was December 2000, and both houses of Congress were itching to go home. They just needed to wrap up the budget — the new … Continue reading
Category: Community VoicesFirst published on April 21 in Urner Barry’s Seafoodnews.com. Reprinted with permission. There is a path through this, but it is like staying on a tightrope, with the slightest mistake causing a disastrous fall. The … Continue reading
Category: Community VoicesYou can’t keep a good woman down or, in this case, a girl. Children in Maine’s lobstering families are introduced to the fishery when they are young, and girls are no exception. We offer here … Continue reading
Category: PeopleThe image doesn’t properly reflect the beauty of the Gulf of Maine but, for the purposes of this article, think of the Gulf as a great big bathtub. Like a bathtub, the Gulf of Maine … Continue reading
Category: ScienceThe Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC) gave its annual report on activities to industry members at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum. MLMC executive director Marianne Lacroix opened the session by introducing the MLMC’s new board chair, … Continue reading
Category: Business & EconomicsWhat effect will the multiplying wind power proposals proliferating in New England have on commercial fisheries? The answer appears to be “We don’t really know” to judge by the presentations at the all-day Wind Power … Continue reading
Category: Science