Maine Lobstermen's Association Update | March 2026

MLA Directors Meeting Summary

The MLA Board of Directors met on February 11. The board welcomed representatives from Seascale Maine, a company that develops aquaculture gear for lobstermen that can be integrated into normal fishing operations to create a new revenue stream. They developed the Maine scallop pot, which looks much like a traditional lobster trap but has four stacked trays inside to grow scallops. The board asked many questions and overall thought the concept was good. They were concerned however that this would add more lines to the water. Currently, these scallop pots can only be fished in an aquaculture lease site, but the company is exploring options to expand that.

Patrice McCarron provided several policy updates. At the Legislature, the public hearing for LD 2002 to reauthorize the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative was held on February 5. The MLA supported the bill but noted concerns raised by lobstermen. No one testified in opposition.

LD 2013, which would provide DMR emergency authority to act if a large aggregation of whales occurred in an active fishing area, is scheduled for public hearing. After an extended discussion, the board voted to support this bill with three recommendations: 1) the industry must be consulted before any decisions are finalized; 2) the authority must be reviewed and reauthorized each time a new Commissioner is appointed; and 3) the scope should be limited to right whales.

Patrice attended the February ASMFC Lobster Board and Menhaden Board meetings in Virginia. The Lobster Technical Committee reported that surveys are improving. The Lobster Board reiterated that no action is needed in responses to the stock assessment and voted to form a steering committee to engage the industry in identifying priorities for the lobster fishery, which will inform any future management actions. The Menhaden Board continued discussions on management options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay cap by up to 50%, which may be approved as a draft addendum for public comment at the May meeting.

The Board finished up plans for MLA’s 72nd Annual meeting featuring Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, NOAA Fisheries administrator, as guest speaker and for the annual MLA Social at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum.

Board members provided updates from local harbors with most reporting that lobstering was decent in January. Inshore lobstermen have taken up gear and some are now scalloping. Lobster prices increased since December.

U.S. Secretary of Interior Meets Maine Fishermen

On February 6, U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum met with fishing industry members. Secretary Burgum confirmed that there will be no oil/gas exploration on the East Coast and that he remains committed to ceasing offshore wind as it poses a national threat. A key tactic is to eliminate all offshore wind subsidies to ensure it is not economically feasible for companies to invest in this sector. The MLA raised concern that the Maine Research Array lease is still in place and is sited in prime fishing grounds. It was an excellent and informative discussion.

Later that day, President Trump announced the reopening of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing, an area that spans more than 4,900 square-miles. The proclamation states that “appropriately managed commercial fishing would not put the objects of historic and scientific interest that the monument protects at risk.” In 2016, Obama established it as the first and only marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean. The rules prevented commercial fishing and some fishing groups sued, unsuccessfully. In June 2020, President Trump revoked the fishing restrictions. However, President Biden reversed the Trump proclamation, again closing the area to commercial fishing.

ASMFC Lobster and Menhaden

At the February ASMFC Lobster Board and Menhaden Board meetings the Lobster Technical Committee provided an update on lobster surveys through 2024, reporting that most of the survey declines have leveled off or improved. Young of year (larval) surveys have improved or remained neutral; trawl survey recruit abundance is neutral or positive, and ventless trap survey abundance is showing signs of improvement in some areas.

The Lobster Board is considering a Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) to inform future responses to the decline in lobster stock abundance. As a first step, the Board voted to form a steering committee and develop an outreach plan so lobstermen and industry members can share their perspectives on management priorities for the lobster fishery.

This will provide constructive input from industry before ASMFC reconsiders its management goals for the lobster fishery. Maine lobstermen are strongly encouraged to attend these meetings; the schedule is yet to be determined.

The Menhaden Board continued discussions on management options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay cap by up to 50% and more evenly distribute the harvest. These will be included in the draft addendum, which may be approved for public comment at the 2026 Spring Meeting.

ASMFC Honors Patrick Keliher

In February, ASMFC presented former DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher the prestigious Captain David H. Hart Award for 2025. Keliher was honored for his longstanding contributions to and exceptional leadership towards the sustainable management of marine resources along the Eastern Seaboard.

ASMFC photo.

March 9 Deadline for Working Waterfront Funds

The Land for Maine’s Future Working Waterfront Access Protection Program is accepting applications for funds to purchase property dedicated entirely to aquaculture and commercial fisheries use, or for mixed use properties where the portion used to support commercial fishing business can be clearly delineated and its use secured.

There is a strong preference for projects that protect and secure the use of existing, established fishing facilities and access sites over projects that involve development of new access sites and facilities. Through a competitive application process matching funds are available to assist commercial fisheries businesses, co-ops, municipalities, and other interested parties in securing strategically significant working waterfront properties to protect vital resources that support commercial fisheries. An application to LMF requires sponsorship from DMR. A Letter of Intent for DMR Sponsorship is due on March 9; full proposals are due on June 29.

Maine Legislature

The Maine Legislature continues its work on lobster bills and attending hearings. The MLA has been tracking the reauthorization of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC), creation of emergency authority for DMR to act if there are large aggregations of whales near fishing gear, a proposal to exempt the Cat ferry from using Maine pilots, and a bill that would weaken the entry requirements to obtain a menhaden license.

LD 2002 An Act to Extend the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative to December 31, 2031

The Marine Resources Committee held the public hearing for LD 2002 on February 5. There were 27 public comment submissions (24 in favor, 3 neither for nor against, 0 in opposition) with 11 testifying in person. The MLA attended the public hearing to support the bill, noting the industry’s frustration over low boat prices and stressing the need for meaningful accountability to the industry. At the February 19 work session, the Committee unanimously supported the bill with an amendment for a 2-year reauthorization until December 31, 2028, rather than 5 years, in response to industry concerns. If approved by the Legislature, MLMC will recruit new board members and work to improve accountability to Maine lobstermen before its next reauthorization.

LD 2013 An Act to Authorize the Commissioner of Marine Resources to Adopt Emergency Rules to Protect Certain Marine Mammals in Exceptional Circumstances

On February 12, the Marine Resources Committee held a public hearing on LD 2013 regarding granting the DMR emergency authority to take action if a large aggregation of right whales occurred near a heavily fished area. The MLA testimony addressed the dilemma of wanting the state, under the current Commissioner, rather than the feds to be in the driver’s seat on whale rules but acknowledged that we might not have the same level of trust with a future Commissioner.

The MLA supported the bill with clear recommendations to protect lobstermen. The MLA recommended that 1) the bill specify that the authority may only be exercised in consultation with the industry prior to decisions being finalize; 2) the emergency authority should be reviewed and reauthorized each time a new Commissioner is appointed; and 3) the authority should be explicitly limited to addressing protection of the North Atlantic right whale, which is the clear intent of this proposal. At the February 19 work session the committee unanimously supported this bill with recommendations put forward by MLA to ensure this authority is not abused. The amended bill will require an annual report back to the Legislature (rather than a one-time report back) and will require Commissioner to consult with the industry before any emergency rules are implemented. This bill has not been voted on by the full Legislature.

LD 1477 An Act to Provide an Exemption from Pilotage Requirements for Passenger Ferry Service Between Bar Harbor, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

The Transportation Committee held a public hearing on LD 1477 during the first session of the 132nd Legislature in April 2025. The Transportation Committee voted not to support this bill but nevertheless voted to carry it over to the second session for further consideration. In February 2026, the Committee voted to support a replacement bill that would require the Cat to continue to use local pilots but includes an appropriations request of $325,000 to cover those costs for The Cat. This bill has not been voted on by the full Legislature.

LD 1353 An Act Regarding Required Landings in the Menhaden Fishery

The Marine Resources Committee held a public hearing on LD 1353 during the first session of the 132nd Legislature in April 2025. The original bill proposed to allow more people to obtain a 2026 commercial menhaden license by reducing the required landings threshold to at least 20,000 pounds, from 25,000 lbs, in at least one of the following years, 2019, 2020, 2021 or 2022 and to have held a license in at least one of those years (currently requires in at least two of those years). The bill was carried over the second session.

The Marine Resources Committee held several discussions this winter as concerns were raised that LD 1353 would allow up to 43 new licenses at the same time Maine’s menhaden quota has been reduced by 20%. DMR reported that it issued 356 licenses in 2025. The Committee ultimately supported an amended bill in a divided vote, with eight in support and five voting ought not to pass.

The amended bill revises eligibility requirements to obtain a commercial menhaden license in 2026, requiring that a person must have held a menhaden license in at least one of the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and had commercial landings of 20,000 pounds in one of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022. According to DMR, the amended bill would allow up to 20 more licenses, down from 43 if those who held licenses in 2022 qualified. The bill also specifies that DMR shall not establish an entry system until the number of licenses drops below 350, at which time the state will implement a 1:1 exit/entry ratio. This bill has not been voted on by the full Legislature.