By Patrick Keliher, Commissioner of the Department of Maine Resources
I was asked to write an article that looks back on the past year, as well as my thoughts about what’s to come. After more than 14 years as the DMR Commissioner, it’s hard to reflect on only the past year, as so much has happened over the last decade.
Patrick Keliher, DMR.
Just a few of the major events of the past ten years that come to mind include:
market/price crashes
unprecedented landings
Covid-19 pandemic
100% harvester reporting
right whale regulations
an attempt by NOAA to close the fishery to protect right whales
Congressional action creating a six-year pause that avoided the closure of the lobster fishery
a big legal win for the lobster industry lead by Maine Lobstermen's Association (MLA)
electronic trackers (and being sued by members of the industry)
record high prices along with record high expenses
offshore wind development threats, changing stock status
declining landings
gauge change
This list isn’t exhaustive, but it includes some of the highs and lows over the years. I recognize, based on conversations with industry members, that after all these ups and downs many lobstermen are struggling with a sense of uncertainty about the future. For example, I know that many people are concerned about the unknown impacts of the pending gauge change. On top of that we now have President Trump’s statements about large tariffs on Canada which could have an even bigger impact. Meanwhile, lobstering expenses remain at an all-time high, right whales are not going away, and lobster resource issues are front and center.
After many years of discussion, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for American lobster now requires Maine to implement an increase in the minimum gauge from 3 ¼ to 3 5/16 inches beginning July 1, 2025. DMR must implement this change through a new regulation, which we will be initiating in early 2025. To be clear, this is a compliance issue for Maine, and we do not have any discretion to choose not to make this change.
I know that the uncertainty this change creates is causing additional stress in the industry due to the unknown effects it will have, but I am also required to consider the long-term sustainability of the lobster fishery.
While landings are not the reason for making this change (it is based on indices of juvenile abundance), it is hard not to look at our 2024 landings without thinking about how the resource may be changing.
In 2023, Maine’s landings dropped to 94 million pounds. That’s a 38-million-pound decrease from the 132-million-pound historic high landings in 2016. As I look at the preliminary 2024 landings, it’s clear we will be down even more significantly. Part of the goal for improving the spawning stock biomass through the gauge change is to buffer the resource against changing environmental conditions in order to provide more stability and long-term sustainability for future generations of fishermen.
In addition, the FMP calls for a second gauge increase in 2027. Starting in 2025 I want to have additional conversations with industry regarding whether the Fishery Management Plan should be amended before that takes place. We will know more about how the first gauge change impacts individuals and markets, which can inform how ASMFC proceeds. Is there an alternative to a gauge increase that the industry would prefer? With input from the Zone Councils we have a new Area 1 Lobster Conservation Management Team (LCMT) that I hope will take on these questions and challenges. Their input will be brought directly to ASMFC’s Lobster Management Board for consideration.
In addition to changes in the resource, the challenges with right whales remain. Many of you have asked how the new Trump Administration might change the situation. It’s unknown, but it is on the top of my “To Do List.”
While I am writing this, I am currently in D.C. with DMR’s lobbyist, talking with members of Congress as we develop our next steps. Unless there is a change in the Endangered Species Act or the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NOAA still will be required to follow the law, and they will keep pushing hard on draconian measures, and we will keep pushing back on their unfounded assumptions. While I can’t broadcast our strategies, I can tell you it remains a full court press that includes direct coordination with the Maine Congressional delegation and the MLA. This issue remains my highest priority.
It is not yet clear what the new Administration might bring to the table regarding changes to NOAA. Frankly, I hope there are many. NOAA no longer sees DMR as a partner they should collaborate with. We used to be but our input, like yours, is often ignored. It is time for change that ensures that the federal agency that oversees fisheries uses co-management to better manage the country’s commercial fisheries.
Two things about the Administration are more certain. One is a likely movement away from offshore wind. It’s my best guess that offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine will not be a Trump Administration priority. The other major change is the potential for new tariffs to significantly impact global economics and lobster moving between the U.S. and Canada. As referenced above, President Trump has proposed a 25% tariff on all products from Canada. This could result in retaliatory tariffs, which will mean major disruptions to lobster trade. We have begun talks with our delegation so they understand what is at stake. There will be more to come related to changes proposed by the new Administration.
Over the next two years my commitment is to maintain an open dialogue with industry through expanded engagement with the lobster zone councils, the Lobster Advisory Council, and now the Area 1 LCMT. I hope you will also make these face-to-face conversations a priority. We might disagree at times, but let’s not let disagreements cause us to lose sight of our mutual goal to support the long-term health and prosperity of this tremendously important industry.
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