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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.
2025 Lobster Season Marked by Concerns
Uncertainty definitely was the buzzword for many people in 2025, including those in the Maine lobster fishery. The 2025 lobster season was marked by colder water, slower landings, and a constant concern about global markets and consumer demand. Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative photo. New tariffs imposed by the Trump administration dominated the news at the beginning of the year. High tariffs on Chinese goods resulted in Beijing placing sharply higher tariffs on American
Jan 73 min read
Guest Column: When in doubt, notch it out
By Col. Matt Talbot, DMR Marine Patrol One of the questions always asked when a Marine Patrol Officer begins in a new area is “What do you consider a v-notch?” Before addressing that question, a little history on lobster conservation going back over 150 years is in order. Col. Matthew Talbot is the DMR Bureau of Marine Patrol Chief The year was 1872 when the State of Maine first made it unlawful to catch, buy, or sell egg-bearing female lobsters. The next 17 years brought bot
Jan 74 min read
Court Rules Trackers on Federal Lobster Boats are Legal
In late November, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston rejected an argument that requiring electronic trackers on federal lobster boats was unconstitutional. The court found that the continuous tracking requirement for a closely regulated industry did not violate a lobsterman’s constitutional rights. The ruling upheld a lower court’s dismissal of the lawsuit brought against the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) in December 2024 by five lobstermen. Main
Dec 2, 20252 min read
Lobster Stock Assessment Finds Abundance Down, Fishery Strong
At its October meeting the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) American Lobster Management Board received the results of the 2025 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report. The stock assessment found that the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank (GOM/GBK) stock has declined 34% since peak levels in 2018. The stock assessment noted that the declines in the population were largely related to environmental factors, with water temperature the “
Nov 6, 20253 min read
2026 Menhaden Quota Cut By 20%
On October 28, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Menhaden Management Board voted to reduce the 2026 menhaden quota by 20%, to 186,840 metric tons from the current 233,550 metric tons. The Board initially proposed a 55% reduction in the 2026 quota, despite a stock assessment that states the population is not overfished and that overfishing is not occurring. The quota decrease is designed to reduce fishing pressure on menhaden and to protect other species,
Nov 6, 20252 min read
An Effective Way to Keep Productive Females in the Water
V-notching remains a key conservation measure taken by Maine lobstermen to help sustain the Gulf of Maine lobster population and it’s a practice that lobstermen have been doing for a very long time. In 2002, V-notching became mandatory to meet the requirements of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) lobster management plan. “V-notching eggers returns an otherwise legal-sized female to the ocean to give these proven breeders the opportunity to reproduce ag
Nov 6, 20254 min read
Protecting Egged-Females is a Centuries-Old Maine Practice
V-notching egg-bearing female lobsters has helped the Maine lobster fishery remain a sustainable and healthy fishery for more than a...
Sep 26, 20254 min read
EU Procedure for Seafood Imports to Change Next Year
The European Union’s Fisheries Control Regulation will require businesses exporting fresh or frozen seafood to Europe to digitally...
Sep 26, 20252 min read
Protecting Female Lobsters A Maine Tradition for Generations
By Patrice McCarron and Melissa Waterman Maine lobstermen have recognized for generations that maintaining a healthy number of fertile...
Aug 28, 20253 min read
Councils Speed Ahead with Alternative Gear Marking Proposals
The New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries...
Aug 28, 20254 min read
To Pay It Foward: Lobstermen V-Notch
By Jarod Bray, MLA Board Chair and Dustin Delano, NEFSA Chief Operating Officer Maine’s lobster fishery is one of the most sustainable in...
Jul 30, 20253 min read
V-Notching: It's as Regular as Breathing
For Phil Torrey, Winter Habor lobsterman, V-notching is as regular as breathing. “I’m a stickler. My dad taught me. My family’s been...
Jul 30, 20253 min read
Maine, Provincial Lobstermen, Dealers Share Thoughts on 2025 Season
Maine and Canadian lobstermen, dealers and processors met via Zoom on June 11 for the second year in a row to discuss the 2025 lobster...
Jun 27, 20253 min read
Coast Guard Plan to Remove Buoys Worries Fishermen, Mariners
By Stephen Rappaport. First published in Working Waterfront In an apparent effort to demonstrate that it takes the Trump administration’s...
Jun 2, 20253 min read
Uncertainty Clouds 2025 Lobster Season
It’s May. The leaves are green, the lobster traps have been overhauled, and boat repairs finished. Maine’s lobstermen are thinking about...
May 1, 20255 min read
Your Questions, Answered: Maines Alewives
Throughout this month a line of trucks may be seen at landings along certain rivers and streams in Maine. Inside the trucks sit patient...
May 1, 20253 min read
Strong Lobster Season Due to Price
Lobstermen earned $46 million more in 2024 than they had in 2023. Price per pound last year was $6.14; the value of lobster landed...
Apr 3, 20251 min read
DMR Lobster Surveys Encouraging
The room was full when Department of Marine Resources (DMR) scientist Kathleen Reardon began her annual review of DMR’s 2024 lobster...
Apr 3, 20254 min read
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Moves to Withdraw Gauge Change
At its February 4 meeting in Virginia the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission ( ASMFC ) American Lobster Management Board voted...
Mar 3, 20253 min read
In the News | March 2025
Council expresses “diminished confidence” in scientific support Members of the New England Fishery Management Council ( NEFMC ) sent a...
Mar 3, 20254 min read
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