F R O M   T H E   C R O W E ’ S   N E S T

In the Game Plan



“The more things change, the more they stay the same” doesn’t apply in the fishing industry, at least today’s industry.

There may be a few people alive today who were around to see the last days of the lobster industry when it was a seasonal occupation conducted from sail-powered sloops using hand-hauled wood traps. They would be in their upper 90s.

Most lobstermen today who have been around since the 1990s know the fishery to be a full “time and a half” occupation. They have seen a 20 million pound fishery go to 125 million pounds and boats go from about 30 feet to 45 feet.

A lot has changed all around the lobster fishing industry along with these changes. Consumers’ seafood-eating habits, global markets, fresh food processing, demands for quality proteins, sustainable fishing priorities and third world economic development, are a few of the slow burn game changers for the fishing industry, one way or another.

After decades of simmering on the back burner, the effects of climate change on the oceans has suddenly been thrown on both front burners, dealing the fishing industry a hand of wild cards.

The Maine lobster fishery remains one of the best managed in the world. But that doesn’t mean it is exempt from problems. With this single-species large fishery, handling constant change will be a part of the business. Developing new markets and coping with lobster gluts are two recent big issues.

The science says increasing numbers of early shedders is likely.

Maximizing the benefit from what appears to be a negative may be the only option. How that happens could be the most difficult challenge Maine fishermen will face. Better handling of the largest part of the Maine harvest to maximize value is a good example of a place to begin. What other changes are in the cards may not be known, but change is on the way.

Bringing power to boats was willfully human driven, controlled and outcomes somewhat predictable. Change to the ocean from climate change was not willful nor is it controlled.

Outcomes are not known, but some can be anticipated. Warmer water means more early shedders and maybe more predators and other unknowns.

Fishermen, scientists and regulators developing a posture prepared for change and an ability to work with it should be in the game plan.