Maine lobstermen landed nearly 98 million pounds of lobster in 2022, down from 110.5 million pounds in 2021 according to preliminary data released by the Department of Marine Resources at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum in … Continue reading
GUEST COLUMN: Smaller, Isolated Towns Rely the Most on Lobster Fishery
First published in Working Waterfront. Reprinted with permission. The value of Maine’s 2022 lobster fishery was $388 million, a decline of over $353 million compared to 2021. While this is a significant number, the total … Continue reading
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Today’s Concerns Are Echoes From the Past
Warren Fernald was born in 1927 on Little Cranberry Island, also known as Islesford, the last resident to be born on the island until 2021. He joined the Navy in 1945 and in 1950 returned … Continue reading
Support for SaveMaineLobstermen is Lighting Up!
You could say that the future of the #SaveMaineLobstermen campaign looks a lot brighter these days thanks to a new partnership with Durabrite. In February, the New Jersey-based commercial advanced lighting solutions manufacturer unveiled a … Continue reading
Birds on Boats
Every autumn songbirds and other birds begin their migration to the south. It is a long and perilous journey fraught with danger and fatigue. Thank heavens for lobster boats (and lobstermen), where a tired bird … Continue reading
Guest Column: some good news arrives for Maine lobstermen
2020 has been one for the books. The bad news has been relentless. But, fortunately, there’s been some good news along the way. Good News in the CourtsIn August we learned that United States District … Continue reading
Tariff, Economic Relief Come To Lobstermen
The Maine lobster industry has faced more than its share of challenges over the past few years. The industry has weathered unfavorable trade regulations which have made Maine lobster less competitive in the European and … Continue reading
The New Whale Rules . . . How Did We Get Here?
Maine lobstermen are bracing for the release of the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) draft whale rules and Biological Opinion which have been three years in the making. What changes will the rules require of … Continue reading
EPA Delays Tier 4 Diesel Emission Standards
On August 20, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler travelled to Maine to announce a delay in the implementation of Tier 4 marine diesel engine rules, an action that the Maine Lobstermen’s Association … Continue reading
Lobstermen Step up to Help MLA Legal Defense Fund
It’s not everyday that you open your mail and find a check for $5,000. But that is exactly what happened at the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) office in May. Offshore lobsterman Alec Phippen, who fishes … Continue reading