Maine’s Congressional delegation, working with Governor Mills, achieved what some might call a “Christmas Miracle” for Maine’s lobster industry. The Omnibus federal funding bill, which Congress approved in late December, included a policy rider that … Continue reading
Steaming Ahead – Why become a MLA member?
Why become a member of the MLA? The Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) was founded by a group of lobstermen in 1954 and currently is the largest fishing industry association on the East coast. The MLA … Continue reading
Steaming Ahead – December 2022
At the end of a year filled with political drama, disappointing lobster prices, and the looming shadow of punitive whale regulations that could eradicate the Maine lobster fishery, we asked several MLA board members for … Continue reading
Steaming Ahead – November 2022
First published in Landings, November 2022 Nothing is more infuriating than not being listened to. That is what happened in September when Washington D.C. District Court Judge Boasberg ruled in favor of the National Marine … Continue reading
MLA Wins Expedited Review of Whale Rules
Former U.S. Solicitor General joins MLA’s legal team First published in Landings, November 2022 A federal appeals court has sided with the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) in granting its request to expedite consideration of its … Continue reading
Steaming Ahead – October 2022
I have to say, September was one hell of a month. The bad news started when NMFS informed us that it had revised the risk reduction model with new right whale data and new assumptions … Continue reading
MLA Appeals Deeply Disappointing U.S. District Court Decision – Vows to fight to the Supreme Court
On September 14 the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Maine Lobstermen’s Association v. National Marine Fisheries Service … Continue reading
NMFS Says Lobster Industry Needs to Do More — Sooner — to Save Right Whales
The lobster industry’s reaction over how to comply with the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) whale conservation mandate has escalated from anxiety to bewilderment. NMFS is telling Maine lobstermen that they haven’t done enough to … Continue reading
Steaming Ahead – September 2022
A few months ago the 10-year right whale conservation plan, which aims to reduce risk to whales by 98% by 2030, seemed a long way off. As a result of a July court ruling on … Continue reading
Maine’s Youngest Step Up to Support Lobster Fishery’s Future
The Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) court case has elicited a true groundswell of support from within the state’s lobstering community. From John and Brendan Ready’s $200,000 contribution this year to local lobster co-operatives, donations to … Continue reading