The MLCA
- Fosters thriving coastal communities and preserves Maine’s lobstering heritage
- Achieves its mission through educational, scientific, and charitable work
- Promotes understanding of the sustainability of Maine’s lobster fishery
maine lobstermen leadership institute
Young lobstermen are prepared for leadership roles in the Maine lobster industry through real world experience visiting other lobster fisheries, mentoring with industry leaders and receiving education on lobster science, management & marketing.
lobstermen’s relief Fund
Sadly, accidents do happen on the water. This fund supports the children and familes of lobstermen throughout Maine in their times of greatest need.
News from Maine’s Lobstering Community
MLCA publishes Landings each month covering stories about lobstermen and lobstering businesses, science and resource sustainability, art and history, and fisheries management. It is distributed for free each month to all Maine commercial lobstermen.
claws for a cause
MLCA partners with businesses, artisans, restaurants and other organizations to educate the public about the Maine lobster industry’s long-standing stewardship practices, and the importance of its culture, economic contributions and social values to the state, and providing funding contributions to support MLCA’s programs
past project highlights
improving lobster handling and quality
Lobster is an extremely delicate animal which must be transported from fishing boats to processing and handling facilities alive and healthy. MLCA delivered a lobster handling and quality program to educate those who directly handle lobster to understand the biology and physiology of lobsters and establish handling practices which minimize stress on lobsters. Reducing the amount of lobster lost from the boat to handling facilities improves the quality and price of the product.
Inshore herring acoustic survey
MLCA partnered with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute on an innovative research project which hired local lobstermen to conduct coast-wide herring surveys. Acoustic equipment was installed on lobster vessels to assess the abundance and population structure of inshore Atlantic herring stocks.
Reduce lobster gear entanglements
Scientists have explored options make fishing ropes easier for whales to see, and therefore avoid when feeding at the surface. New England Aquarium (NEAq) researchers found that right whales are more likely to detect and avoid orange/red ropes. MLCA coordinated the field testing of orange/red ropes to provide feedback on the handling, durability, fouling and and consistency of color in these experimental ropes.