Maine Lobstermen's Association

11/01/2026

🐳 Mid-Atlantic Vessels to Slow Down to Protect Right Whales 🚢

NOAA Fisheries announces the start of Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs) in the Mid-Atlantic to protect North Atlantic right whales starting on November 1.

Most vessels 65 feet or longer must travel at 10 knots or less in this area to reduce the threat of vessel collisions with right whales. The Mid-Atlantic SMAs are in effect through April 30, 2027.

In 2026, NOAA reported 23 right whale calves born, the 2nd highest number on record. NOAA Fisheries reports 101 right whale calf births since 2021.

10/31/2026

🎃 Happy Halloween from the MLA! 👻

Wishing everyone a safe and spooky Halloween on the Maine coast! 🌫️🦞

📸 Jordan Drouin, Cutler

10/30/2026

🎃🦞 Trick or Treat? We'd Rather Not Get Pinched!

Lobster claws might look a little spooky, but they're no joke! Those powerful claws can deliver quite a pinch.

That's why lobstermen put rubber bands on lobster claws!

Those little bands serve an important purpose:
🦞 Help prevent lobsters from pinching the people handling them.
🦞 Help prevent lobsters from injuring one another when held together.
🦞 Make handling and transporting lobsters safer.

No tricks, just staying safe on the water!

10/30/2026

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz has committed to advancing the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act when the Senate returns in November. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Representatives Jared Golden (D-ME) and Mike Lawler (R-NY), passed the House on September 1. The bill would extend the current pause on new federal right whale regulations through 2035.

In 2022, Senator Collins led efforts with Maine's congressional delegation, Maine DMR, MLA, and other industry groups to secure the historic six-year regulatory pause.

Since then, Senator Collins has secured more than $80 million for North Atlantic right whale research and monitoring. Continuing this work is critical to build a stronger scientific foundation if future federal regulations are warranted.

MLA will continue to pursue all options to hold NMFS accountable to the federal court ruling MLA won in 2023. The court rejected NMFS's reliance on worst-case assumptions and found its legal reasoning to be "egregiously wrong." MLA demands a new assessment of the lobster fishery's impact on right whales that complies with the law and relies on the best available science—not risk estimates inflated by unsupported assumptions about undocumented whale deaths.

FMI: https://buff.ly/yTBmWhm

10/30/2026

REMINDER: UPCOMING MENHADEN INDUSTRY MEETING

📆 Monday, November 2, 2026 at 5 PM

Maine DMR will hold a meeting to discuss several important issues ahead of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Annual Meeting.

Topics include 2027–2029 fishing specifications, Addendum II, and commercial quota reallocation.

The meeting will be held in person at DMR's Augusta office, with a webinar option available for those unable to attend in person.

For more information & online attendance link visit: https://buff.ly/lsXVL8o

10/29/2026

Now THAT’S spooky!

In honor of Halloween week, we’re sharing this real-life zombie lobster! Missing its ENTIRE tail and somehow still alive! 😱

Just when you think you’ve seen it all on the Maine coast…

We think this one might take the prize for the creepiest catch of the season!

📸 Brian Billings, Deer Isle

10/29/2026

The darker days of winter are just around the corner!

Our friends at the Maine Lobster Community Alliance share some helpful tips for beating the winter blues in this months To Your Health column in Landings.

⏰ And don't forget! Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, November 1. Turn those clocks back and get ready for even earlier sunsets!

Shorter days, longer nights — and the winter blues are real.

As daylight fades and Maine heads into the colder months, the change in seasons can take a toll on our mental health, especially for fishermen transitioning from long days on the water.

This month's To Your Health column in Landings explores how less sunlight affects our mood, energy and overall well-being, and shares some simple ways to fight the winter blues.

Read the full article: https://buff.ly/kg4jdwo

10/28/2026

Tomorrow night! An upcoming webinar, sponsored by Sunrise County Economic Council, Green and White Hope and Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, addressing Downeast Maine's fishing industry.

A chance to help shape what comes next!
Join the Downeast Fishing Family Virtual Forum on
Thursday, October 29, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. on Zoom.
Register: https://buff.ly/8oOtdTN

This won’t be another sit-and-listen webinar. Fishermen, families, crew, seafood workers, community partners, and others connected to Downeast Maine’s fishing industry are invited to join brief presentations and small-group conversations about:

- Managing stress
- Staying safe in the upcoming fishing seasons
- Getting involved in fisheries management

Bring your questions, experiences, and ideas. What they hear will help shape their in-person spring gathering.

Plus, they’ll be raffling off a fishing-friendly PFD with a personal locator beacon (PLB) as the grand prize, along with other prizes.

Don’t flounder around; join just for the halibut!

10/28/2026

🦞 The minimum lobster gauge increased by 1/32" in 1988 and again in 1989 bringing the minimum legal carapace size to 3 1/4" 🦞

Canada's minimum legal sizes did not change.

MLA worked with Senator Mitchell to ban undersized lobster imports, protecting Maine’s conservation standards and market fairness.

MLA fights to protect Maine lobstermen.

10/27/2026

UPDATE: SeaTrac USV has been recovered!

We are happy to share that the research team has successfully recovered their SeaTrac USV that had been lost since October 12th. Thank you to everyone who helped share the information that led to the recovery.