Lobstermen Survey Results Similar Among Maine, NH, And Mass

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Lobster Advisory Council (LAC) conducted a survey of lobster harvesters and dealers in August to collect input on Maine’s lobster resource and fishery. The survey was developed by a sub-committee of the LAC. It was mailed to 4,697 individuals; 1,375, or 29%, responded.

DMR analyzed the results of the survey and presented them at Zone Council meetings. Commissioner Wilson presented the findings to the ASMFC Lobster Board to be considered in discussions about the sustainability of the fishery. New Hampshire (51% response) and Massachusetts (28% response) each conducted a similar survey and also shared results during the meeting.

Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts’ survey results were remarkably similar. Respondents from each of the three states indicate the industry remains worried that right whale conservation measures will impact their businesses, while roughly half of respondents expressed optimism for the fishery’s future.

When asked how the lobster resource was doing, 63% of respondents from both Maine and New Hampshire, and 60% from Massachusetts said they felt it was stable. In Maine, 8% thought it was increasing compared to 14% from Mass and 17% from New Hampshire. In Maine, 26% felt it was decreasing compared to just 15% from Massachusetts and 13% from New Hampshire.

When questioned about the biggest challenges to the long-term health of the lobster resource, 25% of Maine respondents said that habitat degradation (disturbance from lobster fishing industry and other fishing activities) was the greatest challenge, while 27% felt that predation pressure from invasive and non-invasive species was the greatest problem. Both New Hampshire (76%) and Massachusetts (55%) identified changes in water quality and climate as the biggest challenge. In New Hampshire, pollution 54% was the second greatest challenge, while Massachusetts (44%) identified predation.

A significant percentage of respondents from the three states expressed similar concerns about maintaining the sustainability of the fleet. The increased cost of lobstering was the top threat (Maine 85%, NH 92%, MA 77%), followed closely by the specter of future whale protection regulations (Maine 69%, NH 57%, MA 69%). In Maine, 49% said that their profits from lobstering had dropped in the last five years; 34% said that profits had stayed about the same.