Tag #Lobster Fishing

How did the economic concerns of lobster fishermen contribute to the repeal of the stricter size standards, and what role did competitive pressures from Canada play?

Fishermen's concerns regarding economic impacts, specifically the potential bankruptcy of harvesters and loss of market share to Canada, led to the decision to repeal stricter lobster size limits. The 2023 rules, triggered by a 35% decline threshold, were met with significant opposition because the actual decline was nearly 40%, and the warming Gulf of Maine is impacting lobster health and reproduction. The repeal shifts responsibility for lobster population preservation to the fishing industry itself.