The Endangered Lobsterman

As a long time Maine visitor and a connection to the lobstering community in Gouldsboro Maine, I support the lobstering community and all of the precautions they have taken to protect the waters & the natural habit tat of all of the life that exists in the ocean.

 

The most recent national News on Sept. 8, 2022 of Monterey Bay Aquarium puts American lobster on its seafood  'red' list, asking people to avoid lobster.  This threatens the way of life and livelihood of Mainers throughout the state, as well as all lobstermen ( and this includes all of the women who are out lobstering as well- many refer to their occupation as "lobstermen") throughout the New England area.  It is not only the lobster fishermen but anyone associated with lobster (restaurants, boat builders, sternmen, suppliers of bait, trap suppliers.....the list goes on.). Most families of lobstermen are not first generation fishermen, but part of a long line of generations of fishermen.  Their kids start fishing & helping with every aspect of lobster fishing at a very young age.  The local talk here in Gouldsboro and amongst the fishermen is a talk of concern and questioning whether they will still be able to continue in the career that they know and love.

 

Governor Janet Mills put out a press release Sept. 9, 2022, asking to reverse the "red list" designation that doesn't seem to have any facts that Maine lobster Gear is the cause of the Right Whale deaths.  Apparently the last entanglement attributed to Maine gear was in 2004.

Senator Collins urges restaurants and related business to continue to sell lobster in an open letter to get the facts out to retailers.  Read Senator Collins Press release here.

 

My new series titled, "The Endangered Lobstermen," is an effort to put faces to those that are impacted by the regulations to the lobstering community & the "red list."