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This lobster industry guide provides a general overview of the fishery. The guide also identifies resources for established commercial lobster fishermen. Though the focus on this pathfinder is related to the lobster industry many of the sites relate to Maine and Northeast fisheries as a whole.
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND This site, sponsored by the Gulf Of Maine Aquarium, provides historical information on lobster stocks and lobstering practices. Further information on lobster as a species and the design evolution of lobster boats may be had from their lobster link. Fish Research.com is sponsored by the Department of Marine Resourcesand articulates the departments priorities regarding the lobster industry. Areas covered include oceanography, lobster assessment, life history and behavior of the species and socio-economic issues. CONSERVATION Lobster Conservation.com is the creation of Dick Allen a lobster fisherman from Wakefield, RI and Jim O'Malley is the executive director of the East Coast Fisheries Federation. Its bias is conservation of the environment and the industry. It is a mine of useful educational links that provide a very thorough overview of the industry. The Lobster Conservancy (TLC) is an association of scientists, lobster harvesters, business people, and community volunteers, committed to protecting and conserving lobster populations, habitats, and the lobstering industry. STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS Maine Department of Marine Resources The DMR web site covers all logistical and regulatory aspects of lobster harvesting (in addition to the other fisheries) for the state of Maine. This is the place from which to start to gain access to lobstering. The DMR search engine works very well at deciphering the most obscure search intentions. The lobster management site has links to the apprenticeship program and printable application forms.
Published in the Maine Policy Review, this treatise on the development of the current successful lobstering regulations, explores the successful incorporation of lobstermen in the regulation process.
Forty-eight year figures on the lobster haul, courtesy of the DMR.
This site is the U.S. Department of Commerce portal to fisheries in the Northeast. It contains links to daily updated news releases relating to all fisheries. It also contains a link to the most current version of the Northeast Fishery Regulations culled from the Federal Register. This is important information given the unsettled nature of the fisheries and the requirement that fishers be aware of the latest regulations before fishing. INDUSTRY VOICES National Fisherman Online: Market Updates National Fisherman is the industry voice and the fisherman’s advocate. The site is analytical of the industry and balances ecological concerns with commercial ones in recognition of their interdependencies. The information is reliable and evenhanded. Market information is provided monthly and the archives are searchable.
Working Waterfront is the organ of the Island Institute and a resource for commercial fishermen. It is a clearinghouse of lobstering related information from insurance carriers to lobster hauling equipment.
The Maine Lobster Promotion Council is a non-profit, professional organization of the Maine lobster industry founded by mandate of the 115th Maine Legislature made up of 3 harvesters, 3 dealers, 3 public members, and the Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources as an Ex Officio member. Its mission is to promote the sale of Maine lobster, to encourage education and training of all customers including, wholesale, retail, and food service as well as end consumers, about how to handle, prepare, serve, promote and sell Maine lobster. LOBSTERING AND COMMUNITY Fishing Industry Profile Summary Report From the Town of Harpswell, Maine - September 1999 This site examines the socio-economic impact of the lobster industry on the Maine coastal town of Harpswell. This is the transcript of a Maine Public Broadcast System program that examined how self-regulation within the lobstering industry resulted in sustained growth in the midst of the ground fishing industry collapse.
MARKETS AND DIRECTORIES This is the NMFS chronicle of the fishing market giving daily prices and provides accurate and unbiased reports depicting current conditions affecting the trade in fish and fishery products. Links are organized by region. Lobster prices are determined in Boston. This is a searchable (by species) directory of seafood retailers and wholesalers. It is also a clearinghouse of information for suppliers, importers, and markets.
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