Tariffs muddy waters for Maine’s lobster industry

April 11, 2025 Canada, International, International News, New England

The week of March 31 saw a tumultuous turn of events as the Trump administration launched sweeping tariffs on trading partners across the world, many who have responded in turn. So far, Maine’s lobster industry has escaped the brunt of the conflict. However, concern lingers. “At the end of the day lobster is an indulgence, a luxury item, and people are only willing to pay for something like that when they have the confidence in the economy,” said Luke Holden, CEO of Luke’s Lobster. “A lot of this uncertainty is driving a lack of consumer confidence, which ultimately could impact the lobster industry as well.” Holden spoke during an April 3 webinar hosted by Island Institute about tariffs, the lobster industry and the future of U.S. trade. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:47

CEO of Luke's Lobster, Eric Miller, international commerce, Luke Holden, maine, Maine State Economist Amanda Rector, Maine’s lobster industry, president of Rideau Potomac Strategy Group, tariff policies, Tariffs, tariffs on trading partners, Trump administration

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The New England groundfish debacle (Part III): who or what is at fault? Nils E. Stolpe/FishNet

It took me a while to decide how to most accurately describe the situation that has been visited upon the New England fishing communities that are and since colonial times have been dependent on the groundfish fisheries.

NILS STOLPE: The New England groundfish debacle (Part IV): Is cutting back harvest really the answer?

While it’s a fact that’s hardly ever acknowledged, the assumption in fisheries management is that if the population of a stock of fish isn’t at some arbitrary level, it’s because of too much fishing. Hence the term “overfished.” Hence the mandated knee jerk reaction of the fisheries managers to not enough fish; cut back on fishing. What of other factors? They don’t count. It’s all about fishing, because fishing is all that the managers can control; it’s their Maslow’s Hammer. When it comes to the oceans it seems as if it’s about all that the industry connected mega-foundations that support the anti-fishing ENGOs with hundreds of millions of dollars a year in “donations” are interested in controlling. Read the article here

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