Maine Lobstermen's Association Update | June 2025

MLA Directors Meeting Summary

The MLA Board of Directors met on May 13 in Belfast. Chair Jarod Bray opened the meeting by welcoming DMR’s new Commissioner Carl Wilson. Wilson and the board members had an open and candid conversation about the fishery as it is today, as well as goals and concerns for the future. Wilson took time to explain his background as a scientist, as well as his work at the DMR over the last twenty-five years. He emphasized his commitment to the industry and stressed that his success is directly tied to the success of the lobster industry.

T. Yoder photo.

The board asked Wilson about his expectations for the fishery. Wilson said one of his goals is to strengthen the effectiveness of the Zone Councils. He would like to see the councils hold more frequent meetings run by lobstermen with DMR playing a smaller role. Zone Council meetings should be a time when lobstermen can speak frankly and openly, but with more emphasis on actions to take afterward. He has already met with the chairs of each zone to work toward more frequent and better organized meetings. The MLA board agreed that these changes would be positive steps for the zone councils.

Wilson discussed the survey from the Lobster Advisory Council (LAC) to be mailed to lobstermen in June. The survey will be a repeat of the LAC’s 2008 survey. DMR intends to collect and process survey data in time for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) meeting in October. Several board members raised concerns about distributing the survey solely by mail and suggested the DMR consider delivery via text message or allow online responses.

Wilson said that given the uncertainty in Washington, it is unlikely that NMFS will meet the timeline it announced to develop new whale rules. He praised southern Maine lobstermen for quickly removing endlines when right whales were spotted off Jeffreys Ledge this winter. This might be a strategy to use as new whale rules evolve. Wilson also spoke realistically about the use of alternative lobster gear, stating it is not yet commercially viable and could take years or decades before it is — a view the board appreciated for its honesty.

Other issues discussed included enforcement concerns for drug use and repeat egregious violations, like scrubbing eggers; board members called for stronger penalties. Wilson acknowledged these challenges and was open to discussing enforcement strategies, noting that Marine Patrol is doing excellent work on behalf of the fishery.

Patrice McCarron presented an update on the new membership system, which will be launched in time for MLA’s summer membership renewals. Sunshine Mechtenburg resigned as MLA’s membership director in April. A new job description is being created to fill the vacancy.

McCarron reviewed a long list of federal actions that are underway which impact Maine’s lobster industry. The Coast Guard is seeking public comment on each navigational beacon it proposes to remove; the MLA board will ensure that comments are submitted on all buoys. MLA leadership will visit with the Congressional delegation administration officials in Washington D.C. in June to discuss policy issues. The MLA has coordinated a meeting with the EPA to request an exemption for lobster vessels from the Tier Four engine standards

The MLA and NEFSA are finalizing plans for a V-notching campaign to take place during this year’s lobstering season. The campaign will launch through social media, websites and print outlets in June. The MLA has also received a small grant for the purchase of V-notch tools for first-time commercial lobster license holders.

The board formed a subcommittee to brainstorm strategies on emerging issues. The meeting concluded with an update on the lobster season from each member. Nearly all board members noted a slow start to the season, with not much gear going out yet. Landings range from 1 to 1-1/2 pounds per trap, with price averaging $5.50. The next meeting is scheduled for June 11.

ASMFC Repeals Gauge Increases

On May 5, the ASMFC repealed all gauge and escape vent size measures from Addendum 27, but maintained measures related to the V-notch possession definition and issuance of trap tags. The LMA 1 gauge increase was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

By repealing the gauge and vent size measures, the states will have the opportunity to engage with the lobster industry, including the Area 1 Lobster Conservation Management Area Team, to identify alternative conservation measures to protect the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock. Maine and New Hampshire have already begun convening meetings to discuss the state of the fishery and potential management approaches. The ASMFC will review the results from the peer-reviewed lobster stock assessment in October.

DMR Commissioner Supports Industry Survey

In response to ASMFC’s repeal of the gauge and vent increases, DMR is working with the lobster industry to develop a path forward that is informed by industry insight, observation, and vision for the future.

Commissioner Wilson issued a statement stating, “To accomplish this, DMR is developing a survey in collaboration with the Lobster Advisory Council to capture current perceptions of the Maine lobster industry about the resource, the fishery, and industry economics. The goal is to encourage broad participation from the lobster industry. Results of this survey will be used to inform future conversations, including discussions at Zone Council meetings and future ASMFC meetings. DMR’s objective is to work with industry, including the associations that represent fishermen, to ensure the strong participation necessary to provide results that reflect the views of the entire Maine lobster industry.”

DMR has convened a subcommittee of Lobster Advisory Council to develop the survey. which will be distributed to all license holders. The results will be shared with lobstermen for their feedback. Survey results will be presented to ASMFC at its October meeting.

Lobster Licenses and Tags Decline in All Zones

The number of commercial lobster licenses and trap tags issued by DMR decreased in all areas of the state during the last five years. The biggest reductions were in Zone C, which saw the largest decline in landings (26%), licenses (14.6%), and tags (16.9%). Zone B lost the least number of licenses (2.9%), Zone A had the smallest reduction in tags (5.8%), and Zone F had nearly stable lobster landings (+0.5%)

License numbers decreased by nearly 9% state-wide. The biggest reduction was Zone C by 14.6%, Zone F by 11%, Zone G by 10.6%, Zone D by 8.9%, Zone E by 6.4%, Zone A by 4.1%, and Zone B by 2.9%.

Tags decreased by nearly 11.5% state-wide. Overall tags decreased at a higher rate than licenses, with Zone C tags down by 16.9%, Zone F by 14.4%, Zone D by 14%, Zone G by 9.3%, Zone E by 9.1%, Zone B by 7.3% and Zone A by 5.8%.

Lobster landings were down by 12.1% state-wide. The biggest decline was in Zone C by 26.1%, Zone B 14.6%, Zone D by 11%, Zone G by 8%, Zone A by 7%, Zone E by 0.3%, and Zone F increased by 0.5%.

Maine Legislature Winds Down

The first session of the 132nd Legislature is wrapping up. There were five lobster bills this session. Two bills were passed, both of which direct DMR to seek input from the lobster zone councils. LD 1561 directs DMR to seek input from the lobster zone councils to obtain feedback regarding what percentage of a lobster licensee’s lobster traps a licensee may fish in a secondary zone, while LD 1341 directs DMR to work with the zone councils to evaluate how two licensed individuals may fish for lobsters from a single vessel or fish for scallops from a single vessel without this resulting in an increased harvest. DMR must report its findings back to the Legislature in December 2025.

The two lobster bills that did not pass were LD 336, which proposed to set the exit ratio for all zones to one-to-one, and LD 851, which proposed to create a senior retiree license for anyone who previously held a license for at least three consecutive years. LD 1790, which proposes to require legislative approval for any changes to lobster gauge size was voted down 7:5 by the Marine Resources Committee but is still pending a House and Senate vote.

Several other bills that would have impacted the lobster industry have not passed, including LD 553 and LD 687, which each proposed to move the state waters line to 12 miles, and LD 968, which required a study on how to improve stakeholder input for the appointment of a new DMR Commissioner. Two bills, LD 1678 and LD 1679, which would have allocated a commercial menhaden license and a commercial scallop dragging license to island communities, were not approved.

Bills that have committee support but have not yet passed the House and Senate include LD 192, which would allow sales tax refund on depreciable machinery used in commercial fishing, aquaculture, farming and wood harvest; LD 1023, to reestablish the Blue Economy Task Force; LD 1733, to create a loan program for logging and fishing through the Finance Authority of Maine with interest rates not to exceed 2%; and LD 1503, to create a green crab only wholesale dealer license. LD 1353, which proposes to change eligibility to receive a menhaden license, was carried over. There are several bills to support working waterfronts that are still pending approval by the House and Senate.

2025 Menhaden Season Starts June 9

DMR adopted its 2025 menhaden regulations, effective April 22. The Atlantic Menhaden Fishery Season runs May 1 through November 30. The non-commercial fishery and the pound net operators season, with incidental catch limit of 1,050 pounds, both began May 1.

The commercial state allocation fishery begins the second Monday of June, which is June 9. Menhaden may only be landed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week. Catch is limited to 17,850 pounds per harvester vessel per week, and each harvester vessel is limited to one landing per calendar day. It is unlawful for a harvester vessel to sell, give or transfer menhaden they have taken to any other vessel while at sea and it is unlawful to receive menhaden from a harvester vessel while at sea.

The Episodic Event Set-Aside was amended to a weekly limit of 14,000 pounds or 40 barrels, with landings allowed on Mondays and Thursdays. If another state participates, Maine will drop back to a daily limit to reduce risk of overage. The designated partnership agreement program initiated in 2024 has been removed.

Herring Season to Open July 27

On May 15, ASMFC set the effort control measures for the 2025 Area 1A inshore Gulf of Maine fishery for June 1 – September 30. The Area 1A sub-annual catch limit (ACL) is 1,184 metric tons (mt) after adjusting for the 30 mt fixed gear set-aside and the fact that Area 1A closes at 92% of the sub-ACL. Landings will be closely monitored, and the fishery will be adjusted to zero landing days when the season 1 quota is projected to be reached.

The seasonal allocations for the 2025 Area 1A sub-ACL:

• Season 1 (June through September), 72.8% = 862 mt

• Season 2 (October through December), 27.2% = 322 mt

Days Out of the Fishery

Zero landing days until July 27 at 6:00 p.m. Atlantic herring Category A permits are limited to 240,000 lbs. (6 trucks) per harvester vessel, per week starting July 27. Five (5) consecutive days a week, one (1) landing per 24-hour period. The week begins at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays and concludes at 6:00 p.m. on Fridays.

Small mesh bottom trawl vessels with an Atlantic herring Limited Access Category C or Open Access D permit that have declared into the fishery may land herring six (6) consecutive days a week. The week begins at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays and concludes at 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

At-Sea Transfer and Carrier Restrictions for Atlantic herring Category A permit harvester and carrier vessels landing herring caught in Area 1A to a Maine, New Hampshire, or Massachusetts port.

• A harvester vessel may transfer herring at-sea to another harvester vessel.

• A harvester vessel may not make any at-sea transfers to a carrier vessel.

• Carrier vessels may not receive at-sea transfers from a harvester vessel.

• Harvesters are prohibited from landing more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring.

ASMFC Updates Shrimp Plan

On May 9, ASMFC approved Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP), a new management plan for Northern Shrimp. The plan responds to the continued poor condition of the northern shrimp stock and recognizes the influence of environmental conditions on stock productivity. It also allows managers to extend the length of a fishing moratorium from one year to up to five years. During a moratorium, managers can meet at any time to review new information and initiate management action if warranted.

Amendment 4 added recruitment and temperature management triggers that signal potential improvement in stock conditions as part of the annual stock monitoring process. If the stock experiences non-failed recruitment for three consecutive years, a stock assessment update will be conducted. If non-failed recruitment occurs in two out of three years, mangers will consider conducting a winter sampling program without the use of size-sorting grates. This will allow the science team to evaluate stage and length frequencies, and year class persistence before initiating a full assessment update.

If winter surface temperature and spring bottom temperature in the Gulf of Maine fall below the 80th percentile of the reference period in two out of three consecutive years, managers will consider a winter sampling program. Amendment 4 is available on the ASMFC website at https://asmfc.org/species/northern-shrimp.

Megan Ware Receives ASMFC 2025 Annual Award of Excellence

Megan Ware was honored for her dedication, expertise, and collaborative spirit, which have made a significant, lasting positive impact on the management and sustainability of Maine’s marine resources. Since 2019, she has served as the DMR Commissioner’s proxy at ASMFC, participating on several management boards, including American eel, Atlantic menhaden, and as current Chair for Atlantic striped bass.

L to R: DMR Commissioner Wilson, Megan Ware, and Rep. Allison Hepler. DMR photo.

Ware was commended for her remarkable ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders, facilitate productive discussions, and communicate complex scientific information clearly and effectively.

Dedicated to a strong collaborative process, she works with managers in between meetings to understand their divergent viewpoints so that she can effectively guide fellow managers during very difficult conversations. Her dedication to science-based management, her commitment to collaboration, and her passion for marine conservation make her a true asset to DMR and the broader Atlantic fisheries community.

Trump Executive Order to Restore federal Science

On May 23, President Trump signed an executive order to restore ‘gold standard’ science. The order states that “over the last five years, confidence that scientists act in the best interests of the public has fallen significantly.” As an example, the order noted that misuse of science nearly destroyed the Maine lobster fishery.

“The National Marine Fisheries Service justified a biological opinion by adopting an admitted “worst-case scenario” projection of the North Atlantic right whale population that it believed was “very likely” wrong. The agency’s proposed actions could have destroyed the historic Maine lobster fishery. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently overturned that opinion because the agency’s decision to seek out the worst-case scenario skewed its approach to the evidence,” the order stated.

The order will issue guidance to all government agencies on science, which must be reproducible; transparent; communicative of error and uncertainty; collaborative and interdisciplinary; skeptical of its findings and assumptions; structured for falsifiability of hypotheses; subject to unbiased peer review; accepting of negative results as positive outcomes; and without conflicts of interest.

Trump Reopens NE Canyons to Commercial Fishing

On May 9, President Trump signed a proclamation restoring commercial fishing access to the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which encompasses nearly 5,000 square miles of federally protected waters southeast of Cape Cod.

Originally designated as a national monument in 2016 under President Obama, the Northeast Canyons area was intended to protect deep-sea corals, whales, sea turtles, and other sensitive marine species. It was reopened to fishing during Trump’s first term in 2020, but the decision was reversed under President Biden in 2021.

Deadline to Comment on C.G. Removal of Navigation Aids in Maine is June 13

The U.S. Coast Guard has proposed a wide-reaching plan to remove or alter hundreds of navigational markers along the Northeast US coast, including buoys, day beacons, and lights that have long helped mariners safely navigate coastal and inland waters.

The removals are intended to modernize and right size the setup of buoys as part of an effort to streamline the Aids to Navigation (ATON)., most of which were deployed before modern GPS systems.

For a list of harbors slated for removal: www.navcen.uscg.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/lnms/LNM01162025.pdf.

For an unofficial interactive map of the areas slated for removal:

https://uscg-marker-removals.webflow.io.

Deadline for comments is June 13.

Comments on how these removals could impact safety, access, and local knowledge can be made by emailing the Coast Guard:

DPWPublicComments@uscg.mil

Be sure to include:

• Reference to Project No. 01-25-015

• Your role on the water

• The size of your vessel

• How the aid supports navigation

• Why you are concerned