Steaming Ahead | February 2026

By any measure, 2025 was a hard year to be a Maine lobsterman. The price of lobster lagged, uncertainty hung over the markets, regulatory pressure never let up, and frustration was felt from the wheelhouse to the wharf. As we turn the page onto a new season, it’s important to say this clearly: the Maine Lobstermen’s Association hears you, stands with you, and is working every day to protect the future of this fishery.

C. Clegg photo.

In January, the MLA Board of Directors gathered for its annual retreat. These meetings are not ceremonial. They are working sessions where we take an honest look at what the industry faced in the past year, what the Association accomplished, and where we must go next. The conversation this year was frank. The challenges in 2025 were significant — right whale policy process, market instability, legislative threats, offshore wind, negative press around the lobster stock assessment, tariff uncertainty, and ongoing fights over management decisions that would fundamentally change how this fishery operates.

But just as important as acknowledging the headwinds is recognizing the work that was done.

Operationally, 2025 was a year of growth for the MLA. The Board elected its first Board Chairman and expanded officer roles to include individuals with professional expertise from outside the Board — an important step in strengthening our governance and capacity. The MLA launched new membership software to better serve members and prepared to roll out a more strategic social media presence to tell the industry’s story more effectively and respond quickly when misinformation spreads.

The MLA also doubled down on stewardship in 2025. In partnership with other industry groups, we launched a V-notch campaign through a new website vnotch.info, social media channels and Landings. We also distributed free stainless steel V-notch tools to more than 120 new lobstermen. This effort reinforces what has always set Maine apart: conservation led by fishermen.

On policy, the MLA remained a steadfast watchdog. We spearheaded two industry letters to Congress supporting reforms to the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, and we supported lobstermen’s voluntary efforts to protect right whales during last winter’s Jeffrey’s Basin aggregation. At the same time, we continued to oppose policies that threaten the viability of the fishery without proven benefit, such as ropeless fishing mandates, offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine, ASMFC’s proposed lobster gauge increase, and drastic cuts to the menhaden quota.

Closer to home, the MLA opposed legislative efforts to relax entry into the lobster fishery and supported consulting the lobster zone councils before considering changes to second zone tags and owner-operator provisions. These are not abstract debates — they go to the heart of fairness, access, and the future of coastal communities.

The Board retreat also focused on the year ahead. In 2026, the MLA will continue its core advocacy work while expanding programs to support young lobstermen and exploring ways to strengthen stewardship practices that address enforcement, conservation, profitability, and bait supply. We are also refining our operations and fundraising strategy to ensure the Association remains nimble and prepared for whatever challenges come next.

Another important moment this winter was The Lobster Institute’s U.S.–Canada Lobster Town Meeting, which drew more than 200 attendees from both sides of the border. While there are many differences in how the fishery is managed in Maine and Canada, the meeting made one thing unmistakably clear: the importance of lobster to our families, communities, economies, and heritage is the same. Country lines don’t change the truth that fishing is more than a job — it is an identity.

The concerns voiced at the meeting were familiar to both sides: declining profitability, market instability driven by trade uncertainty, strained trust between lobstermen and dealers, and deep frustration over the fairness of dock price. A dealer panel offered perspective from the supply-chain side, shedding light on the challenges of moving lobster through the market in 2025. High-priced inventory carried over from 2024, a sluggish lobster tail market, shifting tariffs, declining exports, processing failures in the U.S. and Canada, and growing competition from farm-raised spiny lobster overseas all contributed to a difficult year.

The discussion was sometimes heated and sometimes constructive—but it was honest. And it reinforced a simple truth: lobstermen need dealers, and dealers need lobstermen. Transparency doesn’t fix every problem, but it is a necessary step toward understanding a system that often feels unfair.

As we look toward the 2026 season, challenges remain. No one should pretend otherwise. But there is also reason for confidence. The Maine lobster industry has weathered storms before, and the MLA is stronger, more prepared, and more focused than ever. The path forward will require resolve, unity, and a clear-eyed commitment to one another. The strength of the Maine lobster industry has never come from avoiding challenges. Instead, it comes from meeting them head-on, together.

The MLA will continue to stand guard, speak up, and fight for policies that keep this fishery working on the water. With your voice and your support, the MLA will keep this industry strong, independent, and rooted in the values that have sustained it for generations. The MLA will work with you to ensure that the Maine lobster fishery—our livelihood and our identity—endures for generations to come.

As always, stay safe on the water.