Independent, UK - Maine's catch of lobsters has declined for a fourth straight year as the industry continued to grapple with soaring business costs, inflation and a changing ocean.
The haul of lobsters, Maine's best known export and a key piece of the state's identity and culture, has declined every year since 2021, and some scientists have cited as a reason warming oceans that spur migration to Canadian waters.
The sector brought in 78.8 million pounds of lobsters in 2025, down from more than 110 million pounds in 2021, state fishing regulators said Friday. It was the lowest total since 2008.
Inflation hit the industry hard last year, and there were more than 21,000 fewer fishing trips than in 2024, according to Carl Wilson, commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources. ..