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
Steaming Ahead – August 2022
This summer is shaping up to be a stressful lobster season. Profit margins are thin. The cost of nearly everything is spiraling ever higher. The core operating costs for lobstermen — bait, fuel and supplies … Continue reading
MLA 68th Annual Meeting
The 68th annual meeting of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) took place outdoors at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center in Belfast on June 4. The meeting opened with the presentation of the MLA’s Officer … Continue reading
MLA Legal Team Tours the Coast
The Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) legal counsel Ryan Steen and Jason Morgan from the Seattle law firm Stoel Rives traveled to Maine for the MLA Annual Meeting in early June. The two men arrived on … Continue reading
Guest Column: DMR, MLA share Similar Legal Strategies
Speaking at the MLA’s Annual meeting last month I had the privilege of sharing a summary of the state’s efforts on the legal front in support of Maine’s lobster industry. I was pleasantly surprised to … Continue reading
Application Filed to Test Ropeless Fishing in Closed Areas
The Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) filed an application with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in June for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) to test ropeless fishing gear in New England. Up to 100 … Continue reading
Steaming Ahead – July 2020
The long sunny days of summer provide a daily reminder of just how special Maine is and how lucky we are to live and work along its beautiful coast. Being a part of Maine’s lobster … Continue reading
2022 License And Other Fees To Be Reimbursed
Gov. Janet Mills announced in late June that commercial fishermen and aquaculture operators will be reimbursed their 2022 license and tag fees. The Department of Marine Resources will use $8.3 million in federal funds from … Continue reading