Our HistoryThe Maine Lobstermen's Association (MLA) has played a leading role in shaping the lobster fishery for more than 60 years. Founded in 1954, the MLA works hard to represent our members on lobster issues. We endeavor to balance the economic realities of the industry with the conservation needs of the resource. A quick re-cap of some of our highlights…
As a celebration of the MLA’s 50th Anniversary in 2004, a booklet highlighting many issues, challenges and personalities that have defined the MLA was printed and distributed to our supporters. Please read our booklet, “MLA: The First 50 Years” here, or call the office to request a copy. Current WorkThe MLA continues to work on a variety of issues, including lobster management (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; Maine Legislature; DMR Rule-Making), bait (herring at NEFMC; herring at ASMFC), habitat (management at NEFMC), deep sea coral management (Coral Amendment at NEFMC), and dredging (Maine Dredging Proposals). Previous ProjectsHeaLth InsuranceThe MLA partnered with Fishing Partnership Support Services (FPSS) from 2013 through 2018 and served as a “Navigator” to help Maine lobstermen and their families understand Affordable Care Act requirements including health insurance options, subsidies and penalties. The MLA remains committed to ensuring that Maine lobstermen have the information they need to make an informed decision when it comes to health insurance enrollment. The MLA no longer provides Navigator services as of September 1, 2018. If you have questions on the Health Insurance Marketplace please contact a Navigator in your area. You can find one here. Or window shop for plans here: See Plans & Prices. Maine Lobster Leadership Institute![]() Conducted in 2014 and 2017. This educational opportunity provided young lobstermen an opportunity to learn about the industry as a whole. Workshops and travel were a big piece of the program with trips to the Boston Seafood Show, Prince Edward Island, and aquaculture farms to name a few. For more information about a future Institute, contact the MLA office.
Happy Healthy Lobster Tours![]() Dr. Jean LaVallee
The MLA has worked with our sister, non-profit organization, the Maine Lobstermen’s Community Alliance (MLCA) on many projects. In the spring of 2016 and 2017, the MLA and MLCA, along with the Island Institute and the State of Maine, hosted lobster veterinarian Dr. Jean Lavellee as he traveled the coast talking about lobster quality. The Happy Healthy Lobster Tour returned in March of 2017 visiting every zone as well as islands. Sponsored in conjunction with The State of Maine and Stonington Co-op, Swans Island Co-op, Cranberry Isles Co-op, Beals-Jonesport Co-op, Tenents Harbor Co-op and Port Clyde Co-op, the tour reached out to the hundreds of people working the lobster supply chain. ResearchThe MLA has consistently advocated for expanding research on lobster stocks and developing cooperative research projects in order to integrate fishermen’s vast knowledge of the ocean and lobster resource. MLA members have pioneered many collaborative research projects working with university, government and independent scientists on a variety of research projects. V Notch SurveyIn 1982, the MLA began collecting data on the number of v-notched lobsters present in traps to measure the impact of this conservation program on the lobster population. ![]() The survey took place in early October each year. During any two days of the survey week, lobstermen recorded the number of females, eggers, V-notch, short and oversize females on a data card. The results from this survey were used to track the effectiveness of v-notching as a conservation measure to protect lobster brood stock in the Gulf of Maine. The information is kept by the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) and is available to scientists and managers.
Research Projects with the Maine Lobstermen’s Community AlliancePast projects with MLCA include Inshore Herring Acoustic Survey, and whale entanglement research. You can read more about them here. |