WMTW: Big changes could be coming for local lobstermen, but not as soon as expected

August 7, 2024

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PORTLAND, Maine — The implementation of a proposed rule that says fishermen must catch larger lobster or toss them back in the water has been delayed.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission decided in a 9-1 vote on Tuesday to hold off on new limits on catch size by six months. The new rule, known as Addendum 27, was supposed to take effect at the beginning of next year.

Lobstermen and their onshore partners have warned the proposed increase could wipe out the industry, with Maine being the largest producer of lobster in the country.

“It can be very frustrating as a lobsterman when you, you just want to get up every day and go to work, you want to get up every day and do what you've done for generations,” Dustin Delano, chief operating officer of the New England Fishermen's Stewardship Association, said. “What you're seeing in your traps looks to be healthy and looks to be robust and looks to be far better than what you might have seen 20 years ago, but then regulators are telling you that action needs to be taken because what you're seeing is not what they're seeing.”

The new rules come as data shows juvenile lobsters have reached a 35% decline. However, in a letter to regulators, Congressman Jared Golden says this data is "overly precautionary" and has serious limitations.

“Additionally, despite pleas from the industry, regulators have yet to meaningfully engage with Maine lobstermen and incorporate their observations and invaluable expertise,” Golden’s letter said.

The rule would increase the minimum allowable catch size by sixteenth of an inch when measuring from eye to tail. It will then go up by another fraction in a couple years.

However, generational lobstermen say smaller lobsters are popular for restaurants and wholesale, and this rule would cut into profits.

“Fishermen need to be prepared that their expenses will remain the same, but this will affect their catch the first year of implementation,” Delano said.

Because of the delay, the new guidelines won’t be implemented until July 2025.