Tag Archives: maine
Tariffs muddy waters for Maine’s lobster industry
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
Developer halts negotiations for Gulf of Maine floating wind farm. Here’s why.
Three years after they began, negotiations over a proposed power contract for an offshore floating wind farm in the Gulf of Maine have come to an abrupt halt, with the developer citing “recent shifts in the energy landscape that have in particular caused uncertainty in the offshore wind industry.” In a March 28 filing at the Public Utilities Commission, the PUC staff explained that Pine Tree Offshore Wind LLC has requested that the talks be temporarily suspended. When asked specifically why it was putting talks on hold, Pine Tree Offshore Wind declined to comment and referred questions to the GEO. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:28
Carl Wilson gets committee nod to lead Maine Department of Marine Resources
A legislative panel on Thursday voted unanimously to advance the nomination of Carl Wilson to lead the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Fishermen and the aquaculture industry told lawmakers that Wilson’s long tenure with the department and experience as a scientist make him a good fit to lead DMR. He joined the department in 1999 as lead lobster biologist and since 2015 has led the Bureau of Marine Science. “We need somebody who can hit the ground running,” said Patrice McCarron of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association. “He is well prepared to lead on day one.” He said the industry may not always agree with him, but that he’s willing to listen and wants to work more closely with them. “As a scientist, I was always the one throwing a hand grenade into the room and now I’m the one who has to jump on it,” Wilson said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:20
Rebuilding, Maine-Style
Last winter, after more than 40 years of selling lobster out of the red-trimmed shack right by the ferry terminal at Lincolnville Beach, Rick McLaughlin was moving his business into a full-blown restaurant space. The Maine Department of Transportation had agreed to buy his shack — a frequent hub for no-nonsense Islesboro commuters and meandering tourists alike — to make room for more ferry terminal parking. Rick was moving just up and over Route 1 to take over the old Chez Michele building, where an upstairs dining room, seasoned with years of service, offered a view of the water and plenty of small-town charm. But days after the sale closed, the first of last winter’s massive storms tore through, flooding the restaurant. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:14
Anti-offshore wind fishing group backed by right-wing money eyes support from Maine towns
Since its founding three years ago, the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association has been a vocal opponent of offshore wind and relied on funding from a right-wing advocacy group connected to one of the most influential conservative activists in the U.S. Now, the fishermen’s organization known as NEFSA is looking to diversify its revenue sources by asking coastal communities in Maine for financial support. Jerry Leeman is the founder and CEO of NEFSA. And for the past three years he’s been the star of an advocacy campaign that’s led him up and down the northeast coast to preach against offshore wind. Leeman and NEFSA have been making some noise. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:23
Jack Merrill steps down from lobster board after 40 years
After roughly 40 years, Jack Merrill has stepped down from his seat on the Board of Directors of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA), where he has spent the last several decades representing the lobstering community of Little Cranberry Island. The MLA, which according to its website is the oldest fishing industry association on the East Coast, “advocates for a sustainable lobster resource and the fishermen and communities that depend on it.” The decision to leave his post with the MLA was one Merrill had been contemplating for some time. “It is quite a time commitment,” he said, “But well worth it.” But before leaving, he wanted to make sure there would still be a voice on the board for the Little Cranberry lobstering community. “I wanted the island to still have representation,” he said, adding that a younger perspective will be a valuable addition to the board. He found that in Richard Howland of Islesford, who was elected to the board to take Merrill’s place. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:36
Lobster landings fall to 15-year low; higher prices offset decline
the smallest total catch in 15 years, Maine’s lobstermen saw the second-highest price per pound ever paid at the dock in 2024, according to figures released by Maine’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR). The year’s total catch of 86.1 million pounds was nearly 11 million pounds less than the 93 million pounds reported for 2023. By comparison, from 2010 through 2019, the state’s lobstermen caught more than 100 million pounds every year, with a record catch of 132,604,691 pounds in 2016. Offsetting the decline in the total catch numbers, the price per pound that lobstermen received at the dock rose to a near-record $6.14 from just $4.97 for the previous year, trailing only the $6.71 paid in 2021. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:28
Maine town celebrates as its oldest resident turns 104 years old
Edgar Post isn’t used to hearing applause in his honor. After a lifetime working as a lobsterman and then a quiet retirement, Edgar isn’t what most would consider a celebrity. But in the small village of Spruce Head, he is very much a person to be celebrated. Edgar Post, who has spent all but three years of his life here, just turned 104 years old. So, when he walked into the Community Hall on a recent Saturday, Edgar received a standing ovation from a sizeable crowd of old friends and neighbors. “He’s the oldest man in town” is how Edgar’s nephew, Buzzy Kinney, explains his uncle’s popularity. But it goes beyond that, he says: “Well, he’s got a good reputation in town.” Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:57
The cost of Maine scallops
If you’ve got a yen for succulent, right-off-the-boat Maine sea scallops, now is the time to get them. Most consumers can’t get scallops that really are “right off the boat” unless they live in the Midcoast or Downeast and, perhaps, know a fisherman. For those with the opportunity, it’s well worth a drive down to the harbor to buy a gallon or two of freshly shucked scallops when the boats come back from fishing. Even if they’re not right off the boat, good, fresh scallops are readily available, if expensive. In Portland, the waterfront Harbor Fish Market was recently offering fresh “dayboat” scallops at $32.99 per pound for “mediums”—a mix of 10-20 per pound—and $38.99 for “jumbos” all weighing in at fewer than a dozen per pound. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:23
Fishermen want to go green but say DOGE cuts prevent that
Commercial fishermen and seafood processors and distributors looking to switch to new, lower-carbon emission systems say the federal funding they relied on for this work is either frozen or unavailable due to significant budget cuts promoted by President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. The changes are designed to replace old diesel-burning engines and outdated at-sea cooling systems and are touted by environmentalists as a way to reduce seafood’s carbon footprint. Salmon harvesters in Washington state, scallop distributors in Maine and halibut fishermen in Alaska are among those who told The Associated Press their federal commitments for projects like new boat engines and refrigeration systems have been rescinded or are under review. Photos, video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:51
Rep. Paul Presents Bills to Protect Sears Island from Offshore Wind Development
Protecting Sears Island from exploitative development has been a mission of its Waldo County defenders for decades, and the latest leader in this effort wants to make sure that it is not turned into a port for controversial wind turbines. On Wednesday, the Maine’s Legislative Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held public hearings on Wednesday for two bills from Rep. Reagan Paul (R-Winterport) that would codify protections for Sears Island into law and prevent it from being developed for that offshore turbines that have raised the ire of fishermen up and down the coast. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:14
Lifelong lobsterman Elmer R. Witham of Owls Head, Maine, has passed away
Elmer R. Witham passed away on March 3, 2025, at his home in Owls Head, surrounded by family. Elmer was born on Feb. 16, 1940, to the late Clayton R. Witham and Constance M. Gardner. He grew up in Rockland, attended local schools, and enjoyed a full social life until his later years. He began working as a lobsterman at a young age, and remained a lobsterman all of his working life, fishing the grounds around Large Green Island until health issues forced him into retirement. He never lost his drive and passion for lobstering. Even when his health no longer permitted him to work, he always followed the local lobster trade, catching up with the news of fellow lobstermen, and keeping an eye on the weather. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:015
Bill Belichick’s Maine girlfriend pleads with Trump to restore Sea Grant funds
Bill Belichick’s Maine girlfriend is pleading with President Donald Trump to restore Sea Grant funds. Jordon Hudson, a 23-year-old Miss Maine finalist and the daughter of a fisherman, wrote in an Instagram post pleading for Trump to restore the Sea Grant funding, “I am Jordon and I speak for the fishermen. I speak for the fishermen and for the fishermen who have no voice” before asking whether the president loves the fishermen, according to New York magazine’s The Cut. Hudson attended the 50th Maine Fisherman’s Forum in Rockport over the weekend. In one of her posts, she was pictured with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:58
Department of Commerce agrees to renegotiate Maine Sea Grant funding
The U.S. Department of Commerce has agreed to renegotiate funding for the Maine Sea Grant, five days after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration informed the University of Maine that it was discontinuing its funding for the grant. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has directed NOAA to renegotiate the terms and conditions of the Maine Sea Grant funding agreement after he and his office had conversations with Sen. Susan Collins, Maine’s senior U.S. senator, and her staff. According to Collins, Lutnick wants to ensure the work performed by the Maine Sea Grant focuses on advancing the state’s coastal economies, working waterfronts and sustainable fisheries. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:41
A Watchdog Group Told People to Not Buy Maine Lobster. Now It’s Facing a Lawsuit.
A lawsuit related to Maine’s lobster industry is no longer stuck in the claws of the legal system. A federal judge recently ruled that the Maine Lobstermen’s Association and others can proceed with their defamation suit against the nonprofit Seafood Watch, The New York Times reported on Monday. The lobstermen’s group initially sued the nonprofit, which is run by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, almost two years ago, following Seafood Watch’s downgrading of Maine lobster from yellow to red in its sustainability ratings. “This ruling is a crucial step in holding the Monterey Bay Aquarium accountable for misleading statements that have unfairly targeted our industry,” Patrice McCarron, the executive director of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, said in a statement. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:49
Canadian tariffs would ‘cripple’ Maine lobster industry, state’s top fisheries leader says
Maine’s outgoing commissioner of marine resources is warning about the dire impacts of newly imposed tariffs on Canadian imports. Maine sends about $200 million worth of lobster each year to Canada, where it’s processed and sent back to the U.S. or to third markets. Marine Resources Commission Pat Keliher said the tariffs could trigger major cuts in what Maine lobstermen are paid for their catch that could “cripple” the state’s iconic fishery. “The only way for this to be made up on the cost perspective is at the boat price,” Keliher said Tuesday during an appearance on Maine Calling. “So I am very concerned that going into this year, that we are going to see all time low boat prices. And… with the declining volume of lobster, we will see, potentially hundreds of people going out of business because of these tariffs.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:50
Once a form of currency, quahogs remain a steady source of cash
Quahogs have long been associated with money and wealth. “Quahog” comes from an Algonquian word for hard clam, but its scientific name is Mercenaria mercenaria, from the Latin for wages. In response to the scarcity of soft-shell clams, local harvesters have shifted their efforts to quahogs. From 2011-2015, the quahog harvest in Harpswell ranged from about 5,000 to 60,000 pounds. By 2023, the quahog harvest in Harpswell had skyrocketed to 458,000 pounds. In that period, the value of quahog landings also grew, from about $80,000 in 2015 to nearly $900,000. By contrast, the value of Harpswell’s soft-shell landings in 2023 was $384,000. Clearly, for Harpswell’s diggers, quahogs are now where the money is. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:40
Civically engaged lobsterman aims for Select Board seat
Cundy’s Harbor lobsterman Matthew “Matt” Gilley has become a regular presence at the Harpswell Town Office, and he hopes to become even more of a fixture by winning a three-year term on the Select Board. Gilley, who already serves on multiple boards and committees, is the only candidate running to replace Jane Covey, who chose not to seek a third term. The 40-year-old said he’d like to inject some new blood into the board and serve the broad interests of all residents, including lobstermen. A lifelong Harpswell resident, Gilley serves on the local Harbor and Waterfront Committee, Aquaculture Working Group, and Comprehensive Plan Task Force, and is an associate member of the Planning Board. He also serves on the state’s Lobster Advisory Council and represents Cundy’s Harbor on the regional Lobster Zone Council. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:55
Maine: Commercial fishery value increases by $75M in 2024
Commercial seafood landings earned Maine harvesters $74 million more in 2024 than the year before, according to preliminary data the Maine Department of Marine Resources released Thursday. The higher value of Maine lobsters — a year-over-year increase of $46 million — helped drive $74 million more in earnings for commercial harvesters across the board. “During a year shaped by unprecedented storms and damage to our working waterfronts, Maine’s commercial fishermen, aquaculturists, and seafood dealers once again delivered a major economic benefit to our state,” said Gov. Janet Mills. Even though in 2024, Maine’s commercial lobster fishery rose in value, about 10 million less pounds of lobsters landed on the docks. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:24
Most Maine lobstermen have resisted alternative fishing gear. A new initiative hopes to change that
Brooke Hachey of the Sunrise County Economic Council is leading a demonstration of a kind of “on demand,” sometimes called “ropeless” lobster fishing gear. In a bid to protect North Atlantic right whales from extinction, many scientists are promoting this kind of alternative lobster fishing gear that minimizes the risks of entanglement. While some lobstermen in Massachusetts have agreed to use this new gear in exchange for accessing closed areas of Cape Cod Bay, most Maine lobstermen have been reluctant — if not outright resistant — to the new technology. The state, along with a coalition of other partners, have launched a new gear testing and lending program in effort to — at least — change the conversation. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:54
Chiefs granted intervenor status in border-crossing lobster case
An Indigenous nation has been granted intervenor status in a case involving a U.S.-based lobster fisher accused of illegally fishing in Passamaquoddy Bay. Erik D. Francis, 55, of Perry, Maine, faces charges under the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act alleging that he illegally fished from a foreign vessel in New Brunswick waters. According to court documents, he was stopped on Nov. 15, 2022, off the coast of Deer Island by fisheries officials, who seized 36 lobster traps owned by Francis. Francis, who is self-represented, has claimed Indigenous fishing rights as a part of the Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) Nation, which has two communities in Maine including Sipayik (Pleasant Point), where Francis lives, and the community known as Skutik in Charlotte County. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:58
FEDERAL SCALLOPS: February 27th at Maine Fishermen’s Forum; Scallop Strategic Plan Visioning Session
Notice to all Federal Scallop interested parties: The New England Fishery Management Council is seeking input for the development of a Scallop Strategic Plan. One of four sessions is scheduled to take place during the Maine Fishermen’s Forum. Rockport, Maine: Thursday, February 27, 2025, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Samoset Resort, 220 Warrenton Street To help staff with logistics, the public can respond to an attendance form. The full press release, corrected with working links, can be found 
here. 11:00
The Scallop Queen is Coming to the City
Togue Brown may be the daughter of a Maine lobsterman, but she wants you to fall in love with scallops. She likes lobster, sure, but once she became a fisheries management expert at the Maine Department of Marine Resources things changed. She was given a choice — focus on lobster or scallops. Whether dad liked it or not, she decided on scallops. “Lobster is so dominant in seafood,” she said. “I chose scallops to help fisherman diversify, to become less dependent on lobster because at some point that bough is gonna break.” Togue went about implementing a series of measures designed to restore Maine’s heavily depleted inshore scallop fishery. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:18
Maine’s embattled outgoing lobster official to headline regional fisheries forum
The appearance of Maine’s top lobstering official at New England’s largest fishing convention has gone unnoticed for 49 years – until this year. When the Maine Fishermen’s Forum celebrates its jubilee 50th year as the northeast’s biggest fishing gathering in Rockport, all eyes will be on Patrick Keliher. As the state’s outgoing commissioner of marine resources, Keliher “will provide an update on potential regulation changes in the industry,” the forum announced. But as he does so Keliher will be making his final marquee public appearance at the convention just 13 days before he leaves office under a political cloud. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:20
Notice to all Federal Scallop interested parties: Council Seeks Input at Scallop Strategic Plan Visioning Sessions
The New England Fishery Management Council is seeking input for the development of a Scallop Strategic Plan. One of four sessions is scheduled to take place during the Maine Fishermen’s Forum. Rockport, Maine: Thursday, February 27, 2025, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Samoset Resort, 220 Warrenton Street To help staff with logistics, the public can respond to an attendance form. The full press release, corrected with working links, can be found here. >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:15
Commercial Fisherman Norman E. Carter, better known as “Pepa” of Waldoboro, Maine. has passed away
Norman E. Carter, better known as “Pepa,” passed away Jan. 18, 2025, in Bremen from his battle with cancer. He was born in Damariscotta on Nov. 19, 1961, the son of Fernald and Carrie Sanborn Carter. He was a lifelong resident of Waldoboro and attended Waldoboro schools; he began his career as a fisherman. Norman went to New Bedford, Mass. and worked on a scallop boat. He made many trips there. When he was home, he was a hard worker and took care of his family as a clamdigger, lobsterman, shrimping, elvering, and other jobs. He cut his own wood and hauled it to keep his family warm; family was everything to him. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:12
The Carter Family of Maine and Its Impact on Boat Design
Launch Day is an exciting milestone for any builder, but it was even more so for a resourceful Maine-native who crafted his vessel by hand. In this photo from May 25, 1966, Fernald “Fern” Carter’s family boat Nancy Ruth is about to depart on its inaugural ride. She’s packed with Fern’s family and friends. On the bow are Nancy and Ruth, Fern’s two daughters for whom the boat was named, and on the roof is his son Eugene. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:51
Maine Fishermen’s Forum to mark 50th anniversary at annual three-day event
The 50th edition of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum begins on Thursday, Feb. 27, with seminars on shellfish, green crabs and rockweed, and wraps up on Saturday night, March 1, with its annual closing banquet and dance party. During the three-day event, fishermen, seafood dealers, ocean scientists and representatives from state, federal and nonprofit marine organizations convene to discuss all aspects of Maine’s fishing industry at the Samoset Resort and Event Center in Rockport. The seminars are free and open to the public, as is a marine trade show that spreads out over two floors of the center. “We have over 120 exhibitors offering everything from engines to bank loans, survival gear, electronics, clothing, bait and more,” organizers said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:03
Maine Dept. of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher to retire in mid-March
2023, Commissioner Patrick Keliher (left) presents the annual DMR Andy Mays Award of Excellence to Friendship fisherman James “Jimmy” Wotton, of Friendship.
Governor Janet Mills said Feb. 18 that Patrick Keliher, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), will retire from his position on March 14. “After nearly 14 years of dealing with the challenges facing Maine’s marine resources it’s not the issues I remember most, it’s the people,” said Keliher, in a release from the Governor’s office. “The issues facing the marine sector are ones not easily solved, which means rolling up your sleeves and having tough conversations about how people make a living on the water and about what Maine has to offer. Through the good times and the bad, I have made lasting friendships up and down the coast. This work and the success of the DMR was made possible only through the hard work and dedication of our employees. I leave this job humbled by these friendships and by my extraordinarily talented staff who I was blessed to work with every day.” Keliher is the longest-serving commissioner in the history of DMR. He was re-appointed by Governor Mills as DMR Commissioner in 2019, after serving in the position since 2012. much more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:12
NTSB: Hydraulic Leak Caused Loss of Fishing Vessel Off Maine
The fire that destroyed the fishing vessel F/V Three Girls off the coast of Maine in 2024 was likely caused by a spray of hydraulic oil, according to an investigation by the NTSB. The crew all abandoned ship and survived, in no small part because of timely and creative action by the vessel’s master. On August 11, the F/V Three Girls was under way in the Gulf of Maine on a routine trip and had five crewmembers and a fishery observer aboard. At about 2050 hours, the crew was hauling in nets and running all hydraulic systems at full power when the captain smelled something burning. He checked the engine room and encountered thick smoke – so thick that he could not clearly see where the fire was coming from. He determined that the blaze was too serious to fight, and he ordered the crew to prepare to abandon ship. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:27
