Steaming Ahead | November 2026
By the time you read this newspaper, the November election will be behind us. Congratulations to those who won their races. For the MLA, the election results won’t change what we do. As we have for more than 70 years, the MLA will continue to work with whoever has been elected in order to protect Maine lobstermen and their way of life.
Protecting the future of Maine’s lobster fishery is at the heart of MLA’s work. But these days, it’s hard not to worry what the future will look like for yourself, your children and grandchildren. It’s been another challenging year and those challenges aren’t going away any time soon.
And neither is the MLA. We remain determined to protect the fishery that supports thousands of lobstermen, families, and our coastal communities. We know this is possible if the lobster industry stands together.
The Billion Egg Challenge is a great example of what can be accomplished when the industry works together. On its face it was a fun and friendly competition to showcase the power of V-notching. Our goal was ambitious — protect one billion lobster eggs — and we did it! But what makes it meaningful isn’t just the number. It’s what that number represents.
Generations of Maine lobstermen have understood that taking care of the lobster resource is essential to protecting their livelihoods. V-notching female lobsters is a practice handed down from one generation to the next and is a big reason why the resource remains healthy today.
The Challenge gave us an opportunity to celebrate that tradition by sharing it with the rest of the country. Over a thousand people from all 50 states joined the challenge to support Maine lobstermen. Businesses stepped up as sponsors. And lobstermen took pride in showing the public what responsible stewardship looks like.
At a time when so much attention is focused on what is wrong with the lobster industry, the Billion Egg Challenge reminded us of the things Maine lobstermen have done right. It also underscored a larger truth — the decisions we make today will shape the fishery the next generation inherits.
It’s a big responsibility that extends beyond supporting lobster conservation and fighting against over-regulation. It includes preparing young people to be successful in making a living on the water and teaching them to speak up for their industry. This is a responsibility that the MLA takes seriously.
The MLA supports young lobstermen from the time they get their student licenses. Through our Jr. Harvester program, the MLA teaches young lobstermen about the industry and helps them understand the importance of having a voice in decisions that affect their future. When they earn their commercial license, MLA welcomes them with a free Young Harvester membership and V-notch tool. Each time they use that tool, they carry on the conservation practices of generations before them. And as MLA members, they become part of an association founded by their great-great grandparents that gives lobstermen a strong voice and protects their way of life.
Today’s young lobstermen face challenges that previous generations could not have imagined. That’s why MLA is excited to bring back the Lobster Leadership Program this winter after a 10-year break. This hands-on program will provide leadership development and business training to help the next generation build the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed in the lobster industry. It’s an investment in the future of Maine’s lobster fishery.
Being a successful lobsterman takes more than knowing how to catch a lobster. It means understanding operating costs, financing, markets, and the many decisions that come with running a small business. It also requires understanding the lobster resource and the regulations that govern how lobstermen fish. From the costs of complying with state and federal regulations to the influence of global markets on dock prices, lobstering has become far more complicated than it was for previous generations. The Lobster Leadership Program builds on the knowledge and experience passed down from older fishermen, giving young lobstermen additional skills and tools to navigate these challenges and succeed in a changing industry.
The lobster fishery owes a debt of gratitude to earlier generations of lobstermen who built a world-class conservation program at a time when headlines warned of overfishing. The fishery remains strong, but lobster abundance has leveled off, the ocean continues to change, and the economics of lobstering have become increasingly challenging.
Young or old, lobstermen can make a difference in how their fishery is managed, as MLA’s battle against NMFS’s burdensome whale protection proposals proved. With the support of lobstermen, businesses, and coastal communities, the MLA took NMFS to court and won. It’s powerful proof of what lobstermen can accomplish when we work together.
The next generation needs more than a lobster license and a sturdy boat to build a successful career. They must learn from those who came before them, but they also need the skills and confidence to become leaders in their own right. They must take part in something bigger than themselves, and thereby help shape the fishery in the years to come. The Lobster Leadership program will give them the confidence and knowledge to do just that.
Every lobsterman knows there’s a lot they can’t control in their lives on the water. Weather, tides, and the ups and downs of each season are beyond anyone’s control. Yet through hard work, a commitment to conservation, and a shared understanding that lobstering is more than just a job, Maine lobstermen have built a world-renowned sustainable fishery. The MLA has fought to protect that legacy, and and we are excited to work with the next generation as they also protect it.
As always, stay safe on the water.
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