Notice to Lobster Industry from DMR Commissioner Regarding Important Survey

Dear Lobster Industry Member:

This summer, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Lobster Advisory Council (LAC) are conducting a survey of all lobster industry harvesters and dealers to collect input on Maine’s lobster resource and fishery. A paper copy of the survey has been sent to the mailing address we have on file for you, along with a prepaid envelope for you to use to return the survey to DMR.

Your participation is critical to the future of this very important industry, and I hope that you will take the time to respond.  The survey should take no more than 10-15 minutes to complete.  

I encourage you to read all of the survey questions before beginning to answer. If you would prefer to complete the survey electronically, a QR code will be included with the mailed survey which, when scanned, will take you to an online version. Please be aware that the QR code included in your mailing is unique to your license, so please do not share it with others for their response.  

All responses are due by Friday, August 1, 2025. If you are returning your survey by mail, please ensure it is postmarked by that date.

Once all surveys are received, DMR will analyze the results and present that information to the LAC, and at the Zone Council meetings that will be held this fall. In addition, these results will inform DMR’s discussions at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). As you may be aware, in May 2025, ASMFC’s Lobster Management Board voted to repeal all gauge and escape vent size measures scheduled for implementation.   However, ASMFC also asked all Gulf of Maine states to work with their industry in developing management strategies to ensure the long-term health of the resource. DMR will use the results of this survey to document the concerns and priorities of the Maine lobster industry and inform how Maine might respond if an upcoming stock assessment indicates that management action must be taken.

Your license and landings numbers are used to verify that you are an eligible participant in this survey.   However, please be assured that the individual responses to the survey will be kept confidential.   If you have any questions you need to have answered before responding to the survey, please contact Lorraine Morris, Marine Resource Management Coordinator at (207) 441-5319 or Lorraine.Morris@maine.gov.

In closing, I want to emphasize again the importance of your input through this survey.    We are seeking broad participation to ensure that the path forward for this fishery is informed by industry insight, observation, and vision for the future.

Sincerely,
Carl J. Wilson
Commissioner, Maine Department of Marine Resources