Lobsters caught in Maine make up 85% of all lobsters caught in the United States, according toAtlas’s chartof the National Marine Fisheries Service’s data.That can amount to millions of pounds per year – and millions of dollars. So how does Maine make sure they’re not overfishing and destroying the future of the industry?
There are plenty of ways that Maine fisheries ensure safe, sustainable fishing practices in lobster fishing. From theDepartment of Maine Resources, here are some of the ways that Maine fisheries have an eye to the future.
First, when you’re fishing for lobsters in Maine, the only device you can use is a trap. No dragging, no diving, nothing except traps built to the necessary specifications. These specifications include slats for small lobsters, and a biodegradable hatch so the lobsters can escape safely if the trap is lost. Also, there are limits to the number of traps that can be set – statewide and within individual areas.
Additionally, Maine fisheries have instituted size limits. Naturally, juveniles are protected, but that’s not all. Lobsters, unlike humans, grow more fertile as they age, and older lobsters are bigger lobsters. Any lobsters with body shell lengths of less than three and a quarter inches or more than five inches have to go back in the water.
To further protect the population, females caught with eggs are given a v-notch on their tails. This notch doesn’t harm them, but it lets other fishers know that the specimen in question is a fertile breeder. The female then cannot be legally caught. Any female lobster who could have its v-notch obscured, like one with a damaged tail, is counted as v-notched and thrown back. Also, the Maine Lobster Seed Fund buys and returns to the ocean any lobsters that lay eggs after they land. This means that fertile females are given the highest protection to ensure the population stays high.
In Maine, if you want get into the business, you have to be taken on as an apprentice to an experienced lobster fisher. Plus, there are only so many licenses – you can’t get your own until someone else retires and frees one up. This means that new fishers are initiated into an existing sustainable tradition, and the number of fishers is limited. Finally, licenses are limited to one per person and per boat. Big corporations can’t get in and overfish, and revenue stays in the coastal villages that really need it. The fishing population stays small, and the lobster population stays high.
As you can see, despite the fact that tons are caught every year, this industry is not going anywhere any time soon. Lobsters will continue to be caught, enjoyed, and celebrated in Maine and elsewhere for a long time.
FAQs
Minimum and maximum length. Except as provided in subsections 1‑A and 1‑B, a person may not buy, sell, give away, transport, ship or possess any lobster that is less than 3 1/4 inches or more than 5 inches in length, as determined by the lobster measure certified in accordance with subsection 3.
How does the lobster industry in Maine ensure sustainability? ›
In order to maintain a strong and healthy lobster population, Maine Lobsters are 100% hand-harvested — with lobstermen handling each and every lobster with care. All are caught one trap at a time to protect their quality and environment.
Why is Whole Foods boycotting Maine lobster? ›
Whole Foods has had long-standing commitments to purchasing sustainable seafood. When Gulf of Maine lobster was added to Seafood Watch's 'red list,' the group's least sustainable label, and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) removed its seal of approval, Whole Foods paused purchasing.
How much do Maine lobstermen make? ›
The average salary for a Maine lobsterman is around $39,850 per year according to recent data. This career involves catching lobsters using traps set in the ocean off the coast of Maine.
What is the new lobster law in Maine? ›
Maine has strict rules regarding the size of lobsters that can be caught to ensure the lobster population remains sustainable. Lobsters must be between 3-1/4 inches and 5 inches in carapace length to be legally harvested. If a lobster is smaller or larger, it must be returned to the ocean.
Can you keep female lobsters in Maine? ›
Egg-Bearing Females: Why They're Off-Limits
Female lobsters can carry anywhere up to 8000 to 100,000 eggs. If these lobsters are caught and sold, then they don't have a chance to ensure those eggs grow into future lobsters themselves. This can deplete the lobster population, putting the entire industry at risk.
Are Maine lobsters sustainable? ›
The Marine Stewardship Council said it no longer considers Maine lobster sustainable because nearly extinct whales continue to die after getting caught in fishing gear.
Is the lobster industry sustainable? ›
American lobster may be a beloved and delicious splurge, but it is no longer a sustainable seafood choice and consumers should avoid eating it, according to Seafood Watch, a group that monitors how fish and other seafood are harvested from the world's oceans.
What is sustainable lobster? ›
That means enough lobster are being left to continue reproducing, it was caught in a way that minimizes environmental impact, and there is responsible oversight so any changes to the stock or the environment are monitored and can be responded to as needed.
Why is Blue Apron banning Maine lobster? ›
On Friday evening, a Blue Apron spokesman told Spectrum News that the company did not discontinue Maine lobster sales because of concerns about endangered whales, but rather because it was offered only seasonally.
Perhaps the number one reason for rising lobster prices is that lobsters are much more in-demand than they were when they were more plentiful. Back when the lobsters were so over-populated that they washed up on shore, there were almost more of them than people knew what to do with.
Is Hello Fresh boycotting Maine lobster? ›
Following the announcement, home meal kit companies Blue Apron and Hello Fresh announced they will follow the Seafood Watch's guidelines and started pulling North Atlantic lobster from their offerings.
Which state has the most lobsterman? ›
THE FISHERY
The Maine Lobster fishery is one of the oldest continually operated industries in North America, with the first documented catch dating back to the 1600s. Today, Maine is the largest lobster-producing state in the nation. Each year, the fishery: Employs 5,600+ independent lobstermen.
What do lobstermen do in the winter? ›
By Christmastime, most lobstermen have hauled out their traps and brought them to their shops or homes. Keeping them out of the water prevents damage and deterioration. Once the holidays are over, many lobstermen start getting to their “gear work,” preparing new traps or replacing worn-out parts on existing ones.
Can anyone catch lobsters in Maine? ›
You have to get a special fishing license just for lobsters. Some people catch lobsters for fun, but many men and women catch and sell lobsters as their job. You need to learn how from another person that catches lobsters and you have to have that special license.
Is there a size limit on lobsters in Maine? ›
The Maine lobster fishery could see new changes in 2024 to the size of “keepers,” with the previous allowed size of catch being between 3 ¼ to 5 inches, measuring from the eye to the tail. This would change the current standard by a fraction of an inch in only certain fishing zones.
Can tourists catch lobster in Maine? ›
Using your commercial fishing license while running a tourism trip is legal in Maine. Those with a Class II li- cense may have onehelper (such as a paying customer or volunteer) in addition to the licensed lobsterman, while Class III license-holders may have two helpers in addition to the licensed lobsterman.
How much is a lobster license in Maine? ›
How much is a lobster license in Maine? Lobster licenses now cost fishermen $167 to $501 per year, with trap tags selling for 50 cents each.
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