Maine Lobstermen's Association Update: August 2025

MLA Directors Meeting Summary

The MLA board of directors met on July 9 at Darby’s restaurant in Belfast. The meeting opened with discussion about Legislative Resolve LD 1561, introduced by Representative Hepler, chair of Marine Resources Committee. The resolve directed DMR to get feedback from zone councils on the percentage of traps tags that can be fished outside a lobsterman’s declared zone, which is currently 49%. The MLA supported the resolve in keeping with the Association’s long-standing support of consulting the zone councils on proposed management changes.

The MLA learned there was confusion regarding its position on the bill following the Zone F meeting where MLA’s support of seeking feedback from zone councils was misinterpreted as support for changing the percentage of second zone tags. There is currently no bill proposing to change the percentage of second zone tags that can be fished. Since no change has been proposed, the MLA board has not discussed changing the percentage of second zone tags.

Two Zone F lobstermen joined the board meeting to express their concerns about any changes to the percentage of second zone tags. They explained that Zone F has historically fished offshore waters outside the zone due the zone’s small size, lack of productive offshore bottom and historic competition with shrimp draggers. They fear that lowering the percentage of second zone tags may force young Zone F lobstermen to relocate operations outside of Maine.

MLA board member Richard Howland shared that Zone B has the opposite problem. During the years that Zone B had limited entry through a strict exit ratio, Zone C remained open. The result was that much of the new effort entering Zone C actually fished in Zone B through second zone tags. The Zone F and Zone B examples demonstrate the two extremes regarding second zone tags decisions.

DMR has already collected feedback on second zone tags from the seven lobster zones and will report its findings to the Marine Resources Committee in January. The Committee then will decide if this issue warrants further action.

In responding to DMR’s inquiry, three zone councils supported lowering the percentage of second zone tags: Zone B (25%), Zone E (25%), and Zone G (15%). Each of these zones expressed that second zone tags resulted in too much effort and fishing pressure in those areas. Zones A, D, and F supported the status quo (49%) while Zone C voted to increase the percentage to 75% to offset proposals to lower it.

The MLA has reached out to the DMR regarding concerns over burdensome reporting of eVTR’s and landings data which has caused a strain on lobster co-op bookkeepers. The MLA board also noted that the reporting requirements for the young student license holders are excessive given the small number of traps students are allowed. The board will continue to explore opportunities for improvements to reporting and will further discuss ideas and concerns with DMR in August.

The board conducted its annual review of MLA membership and approved a 3% cost of living increase in membership dues.

The Emerging Issues Committee met with DMR to get feedback on ideas for potential improvements to the lobster industry. The meeting was successful, and the committee plans to solicit feedback from the industry to inform its next steps.

The MLA’s V-Notching Campaign, in partnership with NEFSA, launched in July. The campaign features TV interviews and an op-ed co-written by MLA board chairman Jarod Bray and NEFSA COO Dustin Delano. A social media campaign will run through the summer and fall, and written coverage will continue in Landings and other media outlets. The goal of the campaign is to champion Maine’s V-notching tradition’s decades of success.

The MLA will launch its new membership software in early August. MLA members will receive information on the new system before the annual membership renewal. Members can look forward to a more streamlined and transparent sign-up process and modernized outreach options like text alerts.

MLA board members noted a slow start to the season but reported catch is steadily improving. The price ranges between $5.00-$6.25 and $6.50 to $7.75.

The MLA Wants your thoughts!

Lobstermen have sent their ideas to the MLA on how to make Maine’s lobster industry stronger. These ideas are common sense ways to improve the quality of lobsters caught in Maine and keep the lobster stock healthy.

The MLA wants to know what you think about these ideas, so we can understand if there is enough interest from the industry to warrant further discussion on any of the topics. So we’ve created a survey to get your feedback. The survey should take only 5 minutes and all responses will be kept confidential. The survey was sent to all Maine lobstermen via email. If you didn’t receive it, you can find it here www.surveymonkey.com/r/8QHD3J6. Not into computers? Call Shannon at the MLA Office 207-967-4555 and she will mail you a survey.

New MLA Membership Renewal

The MLA is launching a new membership software in August. MLA members can still renew their membership through the MLA website, but it will be integrated with a new user-friendly platform tailored specifically for nonprofits to better manage memberships and fundraising.

What does this mean for you? This year’s membership renewal will feature a simple online form with the option for auto-renewing payments. The new online platform will also give members new options for communications, including an opt-in to receive text message updates. Of course, you can still renew by calling the office or mailing a check with a paper form. Keep an eye out for updates on the launch of the new system with clear guidance on how to use its features.

What’s not changing? The MLA’s outstanding customer service! If you have questions about your membership or need assistance with renewal, we’re here to help, just reach out!

Call us at 207-967-4555 or email shannon@mainelobstermen.org.

MLA Spearheads Industry Support for MMPA Reform

The MLA invited nine fishing associations to sign a letter of support for draft amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The MLA’s position is not to gut the law, but to target specific areas that need to be changed in order to keep commercial fisheries operating. The letter was signed by the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, Downeast Lobstermen’s Association, Maine Lobstering Union, Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s Association, New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association, New Hampshire Commercial Fishermen’s Association, California Coast Crabbers Association, Hawaii Longline Association, and Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations. The MLA is also tracking proposed amendments to the Endangered Species Act and has invited the associations to sign a letter of support when this legislation moves forward in the fall.

The new MLA burgee

The MLA's new flag is just the thing to fly on your boat or at your local wharf. Let the world know that you are a member of the state's oldest fishing organization with this colorful, durable flag. Order yours today at www.mainelobstermen.org.

MLA Board member Gerry Chshman, Port Clyde, hosted the Maine Lobster Festival Lobster Delegate candidates aboard his boat in late July. MLA Photo.

TRT Discussion of New Whale Rules Delayed to Fall 2026

The MLA met with Maine’s Congressional members and the new head of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in early June to express concern that NMFS was not including critical right whale data collected by DMR or federal lobster tracker data in the federal models that will guide new whale rules.

The MLA was pleased that NMFS responded by delaying the start of the TRT deliberative meetings from fall 2025 to fall 2026 in order to incorporate additional information. According to NMFS, the delay will allow the agency to add additional years of fisheries and whale habitat data into the whale computer model (DST).

The data will include an additional year of whale population, mortality and serious injury data to develop a target that better reflects the post-2021 rule environment, and information from the new monitoring programs funded by Congress, such as Maine’s right whale data. Pushing back the TRT timeline by one year does not affect the December 31, 2028, deadline for implementation of a final rule as required by Congress.

NEFMC Developing Alternative Gear Marking for Ropeless Gear

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is developing a management proposal to allow digital alternatives to current gear marking regulations which require physical markers such as buoys, highflyers, radar reflectors, pennants, etc. Digital gear marking alternatives would be “functionally equivalent” to current gear marking requirements. This action is moving forward because current gear marking regulations do not allow ropeless fishing to occur unless an exempted permit is issued. If adopted, alternative digital gear marking regulations would make it possible to mark fixed gear without a physical marker in the Greater Atlantic Region.

NEFMC proposes four alternatives to determine where and when alternative gear marking may be allowed in federal waters within the Greater Atlantic Region: 1) no action or do not allow alternative gear marking; 2) allow in all federal waters throughout the region; 3) limit its use to buoy line seasonal restricted areas established by the federal whales only during the closure times; and 4) limit its use to buoy line seasonal restricted areas even when the closures are not in place. There is also a proposal to require a person to demonstrate knowledge of an approved gear-marking alternative before it could be used.

The proposal also identifies “essential elements” of a “functional equivalent” to current gear marking regulations. Essential elements include detectability (ocean users are able to locate gear), retrievability (gear must have an identified means of retrieval), identification (gear is marked with identifying information), and enforceability (enforcement can locate, retrieve, and redeploy gear). Additionally, the action identifies “beneficial elements” of a “functional equivalent” including viewing distance (gear can be detected from a similar minimum distance as current surface markings), set direction (the gear’s set direction is identifiable), and timing (gear location info is accessible by others at the time of deployment and while it persists in the water).

The MLA opposes this action. NEFMC is continuing development, however, and plans to vote on the action at its September meeting. FMI: www.nefmc.org/calendar/jul-23-2025-on-demand-fishing-gear-conflict-working-group-webinar.

Senator Collins Pushes to Keep Critical Funding for Maine’s Lobster Industry

Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced significant funding and key language to support Maine’s lobster industry in the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee in mid-July, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.

“The flawed data being used to inform regulations has created unnecessary, burdensome requirements for Maine lobstermen and women,” said Sen. Collins. “As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

Sen. Collins advanced the following provisions for consideration by the full Senate:

• $30 million for North Atlantic Right Whale related research and monitoring to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which funds Maine’s right whale research program.

• Directs NOAA to work with Canada to develop risk reduction measures that are comparable in effectiveness to U.S. measures.

• $80 million for the National Sea Grant Program. Earlier this year, Senator Collins supported continuing Sea Grant’s work to advance Maine’s coastal economies, working waterfronts, and sustainable fisheries.

• $2 million for Maine Sea Grant to fund Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank American lobster research.

• $300,000 to support a cooperative research program to collect biological, fishery, and environmental data for American lobster and Jonah crab using modern technology on commercial fishing vessels.

• Directs this research to be carried out through a partnership of state agencies, academia, and industry with a focus on “stock resilience in the face of environmental changes” and “topics necessary to respond to newly implemented or future modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan.”

• Directs NOAA to work with Canadian and state fisheries officials to develop a cooperative fisheries management plan in the Gray Zone.

  
  

• $73 million for Congressionally Directed Spending project in Maine, including $1 million to expand the American Lobster Settlement Index collector survey at the University of Maine.

MLA Seeks Exemption from EPA’s Tier 4 Engine Requirement

Beginning in 2024, the EPA required that newly built lobster boats install a Tier 4 engine, yet there are no engines that meet this standard for lobster boats. In June, the MLA requested an exemption from the regulation for lobster boats less than 50 feet, making a strong case that it is a burdensome regulation.

The MLA has been working with EPA on this issue for several years, having successfully delayed implementation until 2024 to allow engine manufacturers time to develop a Tier 4 solution for lobster boats.

It is now clear that Tier 4 engines are not being developed for lobster boats, which prompted MLA’s request for a permanent exemption.

Lobster Fishery Takes Center Stage in York

On July 16, the York Harbor Reading Room hosted an evening conversation about the state of Maine’s lobster fishery, featuring Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, and longtime York lobsterman Jeff Donnell.

Jeff shared firsthand stories about life on the water and how Maine lobstermen have adapted to changes over the years. Patrice spoke about the pressing regulatory challenges facing the industry today and highlighted the MLA’s ongoing work to protect Maine’s lobstering heritage for future generations.