Maine lobstermen remain mighty political force despite shrinking numbers
Maine lobstermen, who once held more than 7,000 commercial fishing licenses, now number about half that many who actively catch lobster. The decline has occurred since the late 1990s as Maine’s commercial fishing industry, which is dominated by lobstermen, faces increasing challenges in the form of climate change, increased regulation and competition for space in the Gulf of Maine. While the drop has been gradual, its effects could be far-reaching, given lobstermen’s central role in Maine’s coastal economy and their political might in both Augusta and Washington D.C. On the local level, declining numbers of lobstermen could take away a key economic support for Maine towns and businesses that rely on the fishery. Photos, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:49
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