The industry was largely shut out of the initial federal relief efforts, but advocates hope that is about to change.
lobster industry
State, lobstermen scramble to respond to judge’s right-whale ruling
The state’s marine resources chief says ‘this could not have come at a worse time,’ but notes that the court has yet to hear the fishery’s legal arguments.
Regulators fell short on protecting right whales from lobster industry, judge rules
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg determines that the National Marine Fisheries Service violated the Endangered Species Act by downplaying the lobster industry’s impact on the endangered whales.
Fishermen turn to direct marketing as demand for Maine seafood plummets
In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the elver season has been delayed and the lobster and soon-to-open scallop fishery are facing reduced demand.
Maine lobstermen to federal regulators: We’re not killing right whales
The Maine Lobstering Union accuses the agency of caving to environmental organizations when it should be defending the industry.
Though Maine’s lobster harvest was smallest in 9 years, value remained steady
The average per-pound price in 2019 was a whopping $4.82, the highest since Maine began tracking lobster hauls back in 1880.
State reverses course, leaves menhaden fishery open
Maine will create a commercial menhaden fishing license in 2021, but it won’t close the growing bait fishery as previously planned.
Maine company envisions using lobster blood in new drugs
Lobster Unlimited of Orono is investigating whether the crustacean’s circulatory fluid can be a potential weapon against viruses and cancer.
Maine says its plan to protect whales from lobster gear is better than feds think
Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher says the National Marine Fisheries Service didn’t give the state’s plan credit for all of its whale protections.
Maine’s plan to protect whales falls short, regulators say, raising prospect of federal rules
The National Marine Fisheries Service says the state’s proposal to keep endangered right whales from getting entangled in lobstering gear doesn’t go far enough.