$15 Million Secured For Coastal Communities in Maine Damaged By Recent Storms 

U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced this week that she has secured $15 million dollars to help coastal communities in Maine rebuild, following infrastructure damage caused by recent storms.

The Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill includes $10 million through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which will go towards repairing and renovating infrastructure affected by storms that hit the coast in December 2023 and January of this year. The legislation also includes $5 million to create a new program at the...

Maine Commercial Fisheries Bring In Over $610 Million For Fishermen In 2023

Preliminary data released by Maine’s Department of Marine Resources reveals that commercial fishermen earned $611,277,692 at the dock last year — primarily due to strong boat prices for lobster. To compare, in 2022 Maine harvesters earned $574,049,682. 

“The Maine seafood industry continues to be a powerful economic engine for our state,” commented Governor Janet Mills. “The dedication to sustainability and premium quality by our fishermen, aquaculturists and dealers is a source of tremendous pride for everyone who calls Maine home...

Latest NARW Mortality Linked to Maine Lobster Gear; Read Reactions Here

Late last month NOAA Fisheries confirmed a new North Atlantic right whale (NARW) mortality — the first of 2024. A preliminary necropsy conducted earlier this month revealed that “chronic entanglement” played a factor in the death of the whale, which was identified as #5120. But now, upon analysis of the gear, NOAA was able to determine that the rope removed from the whale came from Maine. 

“Based upon our analysis of the gear, including the purple markings on the rope recovered from North Atlantic right whale #5120...

Maine DMR Confirms 9,688 Pound Elver Quota Secured For 2025 Season

Maine’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR) recently confirmed that they were able to secure the 9,688 pound elver quota for the 2025 season. This has been the quota since 2019. 

The quota was discussed at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s American Eel Management Board meeting, which was held on January 23. As noted at the meeting, in August the Board initiated Draft Addendum VI to “address the quota for Maine’s glass eel fishery for the 2025 fishing year and beyond,” as the current quota expires at the...

Maine Launches River Project to Protect Endangered Atlantic Salmon with USDA Grant 

The Maine Department of Marine Resource’s Sea-run Fisheries and Habitat Bureau has received a $5.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve habitat for endangered Atlantic salmon.

The restoration work will take place in the eight Maine rivers that hold the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Atlantic salmon, which has been listed as endangered since 2000. The project will also promote populations of wild brook trout and other sea-run species such as eels and sea-lamprey. 

The funds, from...

Gulf of Maine Draft Wind Energy Area Meeting For Fishermen To Take Place This Week

Earlier this month BOEM announced a Draft Wind Energy Area in the Gulf of Maine and and accompanying 30-day public comment period. Now meetings for fishermen are set to take place this week.

According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the draft Wind Energy Area covers 3.5 million acres offshore Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The areas range from between 23 to 120 miles off the coast. The areas is a 64% reduction from the Call Area that BOEM had announced for comment...

Maine DMR: ASMFC Board Votes to Delay Implementation of Addendum XXVII Measure

The Maine Department of Marine Resources sent out a bulletin Monday evening confirming that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has decided to delay implementation of Addendum XXVII measures.

Addendum XXVII was passed by the ASMFC board last May, putting in place a proactive agreement that would “trigger” a gauge increase when juvenile indices reached a 35% decline. On Monday it was confirmed that the index of sublegal lobsters from the trawl and ventless trap survey declined by 39%. That is 4% more than the trigger established...

$300K Coastal Planning Grants Available in Maine

The Department of Marine Resources’ Maine Coastal Program (MCP) and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Municipal Planning Assistance Program (MPAP) are accepting applications for coastal planning grants totaling approximately $300,000. 

The funding, which comes from an annual grant from NOAA, is in response to impacts of recent storms experienced in Maine’s coastal communities.

Two grant programs — the FY 2025 Coastal Community Grant Program and the Shore and Harbor Planning Grant Program are being combined into one grant program. The matching fund requirement has been eliminated and the application process... 

Maine’s Elver Fishery Lottery Open For 16 New Entrants

On Thursday Maine’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR) opened the lottery to allow 16 Maine residents a chance to join the state’s elver fishery.

The Maine elver fishery has a cap of 425 state-issued licenses. When licenses are not renewed, new licenses become available. A lottery provides residents with a fair chance to be able to participate in the state’s very lucrative fishery. According to the DMR’s historical landings, in 2022 the elver fishery was valued at $20.16 million, with harvesters getting $2,138 per pound...

Maine Aquaculture Company American Unagi Receives Investment From RuralWorks

Maine-based aquaculture company American Unagi announced this week that they have received a strategic investment from RuralWorks Partners, an impact-driven investment firm. 

“With a strong focus on supporting local economies and preserving our environment, American Unagi leads the way in sustainable aquaculture,” said Sara Rademaker, the founder of American Unagi. “Our mission is to offer consumers a responsible and traceable alternative to uncertain imported eel products, while championing community growth and responsible natural resource management. Our collaboration with RuralWorks is an important piece in achieving these goals...

NFWF Grants Support Maine Lobster Industry’s Launch in Alternative Fishing Gear Testing

Some creative thinking has been rewarded with a $5 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to test alternative fishing gear that could reduce deaths of the endangered North Atlantic right whales (NARW).

Maine’s DMR received two grants totaling $5,050,658 from the federal agency to research support research into alternatives to traditional lobster trap and buoy fishing gear which may be required by future regulations to reduce the risk of serious injury and mortality to  ...

Maine Aquaculture Association Responds to Inaccurate New York Times Reporting on Net Pen Salmon Farm

Recent reporting in the New York Times on salmon aquaculture paints an incorrect picture of net pen salmon farming. Net pen farming is the most environmentally sustainable animal production on the planet, and our members take great pride in ensuring the welfare of the fish we raise and minimizing the environmental impacts of our operations.

Below is our letter to the Times, addressing several wrong points in the article and setting the record straight about sustainable Maine salmon farming...

Maine DMR Confirms Body of Missing Lobstermen Recovered Near Addison

The Maine Department of Marine Resources confirmed on Friday that the body recovered near Addison earlier this week was Tylar Michaud, the 18-year-old lobsterman that went missing last month.

Michaud went missing in late July. He was last seen heading out to haul and set traps near Petit Manan Point. When he failed to return home a missing persons report was filed. His empty boat was found the next day. Fellow lobstermen expressed fears that Michaud may have went overboard with his gear...