top of page
L A N D I N G S
NEWS & VIEWS FROM MAINE'S LOBSTERING COMMUNITY
In January 2013, the MLCA launched Landings, a monthly newspaper which balances
its content amongst science, history, resource sustainability, economic development,
and human interest stories. Through Landings, MLCA educates the public and lobster
industry stakeholders about the unique characteristics of Maine’s lobstering traditions,
its history and heritage, ongoing research to maintain the sustainability of the resource,
and its non-harmful and non-wasteful commercial fishing practices.
Distributing more than 6,500 copies of this 24+page publication free via mail each
month to all of Maine’s commercial lobstermen, state government agency staff, elected
state officials, Congressional delegation, subscribers, marine businesses; and to the
public at various locations around the state including ferry terminals, marine supply
stores and annual educational forums.
Coastal Outlook: Thoughts from MLCA President Patrice McCarron
Historically, Maine has been known as a natural resources state. Lumbermen went to the North Woods to mark, cut and transport trees, first by river and later by truck, to the state’s many paper and pulp mills. Aroostock farmers tilled sweeping fields of potatoes during the summer then the entire family helped harvest the spuds in the fall. Maine fishermen went to sea to capture the bounty of the Gulf of Maine for themselves and consumers throughout the world. Today Maine’s fi
Nov 4, 20174 min read
The York Lobstermen's Association: Small but dedicated!
The York Lobstermen’s Association is a congenial group of lobstermen. Started in the late 1980s by lobsterman Pat White, the Association is currently headed by White’s son, Jeff. “I’m the go-to person that newspapers call when they want to know what’s going on down here,” he laughed. The Association is best known for its yearly clean-up day when members search the area’s beaches and coves to round up broken traps, buoys and other gear. “Then we have a cook-out,” White said.
Oct 21, 20172 min read
People of the Coast: Skip Connell of Spruce Head
“That’s why I go fishing. How else can I ride around in boats all day?”Gordon “Skip” Connell, 59, is a soft-spoken man most of the time. But when he starts talking about boats, the sound of his voice gradually intensifies. The Spruce Head lobsterman has sailed or fished on so many different vessels it’s impossible to name them all. His competence as a seaman and sailor is well-known among fishermen in the mid-coast area. And it all started when he was just a kid, sailing a 43
Oct 7, 20174 min read
Guest Column: Massachusetts Lobster Season in Full Gear
With the 2017 fishing season in full gear and lobsters being landed and the price holding around $4.75-$6.00lb, the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association continues to be engaged in the numerous issues that the commercial fishing industry is facing. There never seems to be any downtime, as you in Maine know all too well. The Association is working on issues related to the National Marine Monument, North Atlantic right whales, advocating for more law enforcement, organizing th
Oct 1, 20173 min read
people of the coast: John Bullard of New Bedford
First published in Landings, September, 2017 No one would accuse John Bullard of lacking words. The Regional Administrator for NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) likes to talk and has a gift for storytelling. But he also has a gift for listening. “When I got here in 2012, all the external relationships with this office were broken. We had bad relationships with Congress, with the press, the states, and the fishing industry. So after I met the staff I sa
Sep 4, 20177 min read
2017 River Herring Comeback Not Just A Flash in the Pan
“So many they turned the water black,” “hundreds of barrels in a single tide.” These are quotes describing river herring migrations 75-100 years ago. River herring are alewife and blueback herring, small bait fish related to Atlantic herring. They are anadromous, meaning they swim into freshwater to spawn and both adults and juveniles later return to the sea. They once frequented nearly every stream and river of the Atlantic coast. The history of the fishery in Maine goes bac
Aug 26, 20173 min read
Stonington Lobsterman Honored for Eighty Years on the Water
First published in Island Ad-vantages, reprinted with permission Special recognition is awarded to Andrew “Andy” Gove for 80 years of selfless acts of bravery, life-saving and continued support of Marine Patrol.For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Rustin Ames. I’ve been a Marine Patrol officer in Stonington for 12 years and I’m very honored to have the opportunity to speak to you here today, on behalf of my department. Believe it or not, some people say that Stoning
Aug 17, 20172 min read
Aug 14, 20170 min read
Steaming Ahead
It has been a hell of a year for right whales. As I write this, eight right whales have been found dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence so far this summer. Necropsies conducted by researchers on six of the whales attribute three deaths to ship strikes, one to entanglement in snow crab gear, and one remains undetermined. One necropsy is still pending. In addition to these mortalities, there have been six entangled right whales in 2017. Fortunately, three were successfully disentan
Aug 13, 20174 min read
Kittery Businessman Takes Bold Step Into The Seafood Business
When the former Weathervane seafood distribution center property on Badgers Island in Kittery became available, Kittery Trading Post owner Kevin Adams saw a business opportunity that would benefit the lobstering community and local economy. Through his vision, Maine Ocean Lobster was founded.“I have been very fortunate to be a third-generation owner of the Kittery Trading Post. I’ve been blessed to have a successful life in great part because of the local people. When this pr
Jul 31, 20173 min read
Jul 26, 20170 min read
guest column: Challenges ahead for Maine Marine Patrol
First published in Landings , June, 2017 Maine Marine Patrol Officers have had a busy and productive winter. Although it’s been a cold spring, now that the weather has warmed up officers will begin shifting from monitoring spring fisheries — elver and smelt — to lobster, shellfish and herring enforcement. The year ahead promises to have many challenges and again we will be asking fishermen to help us to meet these head-on. Most of our small vessel fleet is back on the water
Jun 20, 20174 min read
Jun 20, 20170 min read
Steaming Ahead: Maine Lobstermen's Association Update
First published in Landings, May, 2017 It’s been a crazy spring and the busiest few months I have experienced in my 17 years with the MLA. The volume and seriousness of the issues that our lobster industry faces seem unending. Things really took off after the forum in March. The MLA conducted a lobster quality tour, took a bus of industry members to the International Seafood Expo in Boston, attended New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) herring meetings, attended a c
May 22, 20174 min read
bottom of page