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In The News | February 2025

MLCA Staff

New Hampshire will not make gauge change

On January 21 New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte informed the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) that the state would not comply with new guidelines increasing the minimum size for lobsters caught in the Gulf of Maine. “I have heard loud and clear from our lobstermen, commercial fishermen, and concerned legislators and citizens from our Seacoast that this minimum size increase will have a negative impact on an industry already strained by existing regulations,” said Governor Ayotte in her letter. “…New Hampshire will comply with the previous minimum size for lobster in an effort to preserve this proud industry.”


Right whale protection rule fails

The Biden administration dropped a proposed rule that would have required vessels less than 65 feet to slow down in areas where endangered right whales are found. The rule, introduced more than two years ago by the National Marine Fisheries Service, would have required more ships to slow down in East Coast waters to help prevent collisions with the whales. Since introduced, the proposal has been the topic of much debate among shippers, charter boat companies and others. The National Marine Fisheries Service received about 90,000 public comments on the proposed rule. Officials said the volume of feedback and the complexity of the issue made it impossible to finalize the rule before the Biden administration left office. 


Vineyard Wind installation resumes

Vineyard Wind has been given the green light to resume installation and power production after a blade from one of its turbines snapped and fell into waters near Nantucket last summer. However, the company must remove all blades made at GE Vernova’s Quebec factory. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced on January 17 that it had completed its review of the project, which was begun after a 107-meter blade broke off in July 2024. The review found there was insufficient bonding at certain locations within the blade, which should have been detected at the manufacturing plant through inspection and quality control procedures. The blades must be removed from 22 locations where they were installed.


Canadian lobster fishery considers a Trump future

The effects of tariffs from the United States on Canada’s lobster industry could depend on timing, but officials say just the threat is further proof of the need to keep diversifying markets. Geoff Irvine, executive director of the Lobster Council of Canada, said he and others aren’t waiting around to see what happens. Although shippers of live product have diversified markets through the years to the point that China — not the U.S. — is the largest market for live lobster, the frozen market still depends largely on American buyers. About 55% of Canada’s export value in lobster is frozen or processed, and three-quarters of that goes to the U.S., said Irvine. A strong American economy has translated into lots of appetite in the retail and food service sectors for frozen lobster tails and meat.


No land-based salmon farm in Belfast

Nordic Aquafarms announced in mid-January that it would no longer pursue its land-based salmon farm in Belfast, after years of legal challenges from opponents. The company said it has spent tens of millions of dollars on the project, and secured local, state and federal permits; calling the decision a sad day for the Maine economy and aquaculture industry. The company faced legal setbacks when trying to secure access to Penobscot Bay to draw water and discharge wastewater.


Tough months for Nova Scotia lobster season

In Nova Scotia, the winter lobster season is off to a rough start. Lobster harvesters in the province’s largest fisheries, Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 33 and 34, are grappling with a combination of weather disruptions, weak landings, and lower-quality catches, and high Jonah crab bycatch which have significantly impacted both prices and operations. The weather has severely impacted the lobster fleet, and reports indicate that catches are down by as much as 20 percent in LFA 34 compared to last year. The situation is especially dire in St. Mary’s Bay.


2025 Maine trap tags

The Department of Marine Resources announced in January that UPS will no longer deliver trap tags to PO boxes. Due to this change by UPS, DMR amended the delivery information to the physical address provided by license holders for orders of 2025 tags that have already been submitted. If you have previously received tags at your PO Box, you will receive them at your physical address going forward.    


If the license does not list a physical address, or lists a PO box as a physical address, the tags will be delivered to DMR’s Augusta office. When DMR receives them, staff will contact you to make arrangements to receive your tags. In general, lobstermen should expect to receive tags no later than five weeks after the order is placed. If more than 5 weeks go by without receiving the tags, DMR asks lobstermen to contact the department so staff can track the status of the order and reorder if necessary to ensure that lobstermen can get the tags on traps prior to June 1.

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