Steaming Ahead | September 2025

Recently, the MLA sent out a survey to gather industry feedback on ideas lobstermen have presented to us as ways to improve the lobster fishery. Ideas range from claw saver panels and handling practices to enforcement improvements.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE MLA SURVEY

Separately, the Maine DMR and Lobster Advisory Council (LAC) worked together to send out their own survey. It is an important survey. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), when it withdrew plans in May to increase the gauge and vents sizes, asked DMR to work with lobstermen to come up with management strategies to protect the long-term health of lobster stocks. DMR sent out the LAC survey to document the priorities of Maine lobstermen and formulate how it might respond if the new lobster stock assessment shows changes in the populations. Rumor has it that the DMR survey achieved below a 30% response rate, which, although common, is still low. The DMR survey took less than 5 minutes to complete.

Many fishermen have said that they don’t feel their voices are heard, but the DMR survey and the MLA’s offer a perfect opportunity for just that. Countless times I’ve listened to fishermen express their reluctance to speak up at meetings about their stance on a topic, sometimes because they fear public speaking or retaliation from those who disagree. A survey is a way for fishermen to directly deliver their thoughts and feel comfortable doing so. I’ve been to many heated meetings that ended in yelling matches, and that’s not an environment where many people feel comfortable expressing their opinions. 

The MLA survey includes topics that people have been publicly discussing since 2007. The MLA is seeking license holders’ input to determine which, if any, of these ideas should be looked at more thoroughly.

In recent years the MLA has was committed to fight legal battles and advocate against ASMFC’s gauge increase, leaving us little time to reflect on how we could improve the fishery further. We have done a good job of saying “No” to unwarranted federal regulations that came our way, which led to the pause on new right whale rules until 2028. Now is a good time for the MLA and for lobstermen to reflect on how they want to make the lobster fishery better, rather than how someone else thinks we should. That is the focus of the MLA survey. The survey was sent via email; please fill it out so we can determine which ideas are worth pursuing in depth.

While the MLA has proved to be a fighter when things are going against lobstermen, it’s also able to think ahead, to look at the big picture. Asking you what you want to see in the future is what sets us apart from other organizations. Although the MLA has stood firm against new regulations and overreach by the federal government, we also look for ways to help the fishery grow and improve, based on what lobstermen themselves think is best. This is where the MLA truly stands out. 

Remember the MLA’s mission: to advocate for a sustainable lobster resource and the fishermen and communities that depend on it. Now is the time for you to tell us what you think needs to happen for Maine’s lobster fishery to remain strong in the future.