Membership
With major issues facing Maine’s lobster industry, Your membership matters more than ever. Join or renew today.
Membership Renew, join or find out more about membership
Business Discounts Are you an MLA member? Check out discounts at local businesses
Business Directory Support the businesses that support us.
Monthly MLA Pages Find out what’s going on in the lobster industry!
Want to know more about what we do? Watch this short video! https://youtu.be/jExXuyosZs0
“For the past 62 years the Maine Lobstermen’s Association has advocated for lobstermen from all parts of the Maine coast. Its longevity is due to the men and women who make up its membership. Staying strong and relevant means successfully drawing new members into the association year after year..”
Read more here
Current News
Support the MLA Legal Defense Fund
The MLA is fighting to save Maine’s lobster fishery. We’ve made great progress but we need YOUR support to continue the fight. Please make your generous donation to MLA’s Legal Defense Fund today. More info here
Please Submit Your Comments to NOAA
2/9/21 Two industry changing pieces of federal legislation face Maine lobstermen and the MLA strongly encourages all lobstermen to to comment on the Draft Whale Rules due March 1st and the Biological Opinion due Feb 19th.
Click here to see info on both.
Click here to see about commenting on the Whale Rules
Diabetes Risk Prevention Program Available to Maine Lobstermen
If you’re overweight, physically inactive, or 45+ years old, you may be at risk for this silent killer. As an MLA member, you can delay or even reverse the onset of diabetes with The Preventive Plan, a wellness program we’re making 100% free to you… Space is limited, so find out if you are at risk, and reserve your seat today: https://www.uspm.com/dpp/
10/25/20: Berried Lobster Tagging Project Continues in Grand Manan
Found a tagged lobster? Found a lobster with a funny grey Tidbit? It’s the Grand Manan Whale Seabird Research Station lobster tagging study! Find out how to REPORT A TAGGED LOBSTER here.
Looking for specific information? Check the links below
Events
To the Maine Commercial Fishing Industry:
It is with reluctance and deep regret that the Forum Board of Directors has decided to cancel the 2021 Maine Fishermen’s Forum.
There is no possible way that we can protect our Forum participants in such a tight environment, due to COVID-19 and required safety restrictions.
The Board intends to continue serving the commercial fishing industry throughout 2021. We will be meeting soon to discuss options, and will share more details as they become available. Please check our website or Facebook page for updates.
At this point, we have every intention of holding the Forum on March 3, 4 and 5, 2022. Please mark your calendars and we truly hope to see you there.
In the meantime, we wish you the best over the coming year, and look forward to seeing you in 2022.
Good fishing!
Steve Train
President
Maine Fishermen’s Forum
McMillan Offshore Training
Location: Bucksport at Maine Maritime Academy Center for Professional Mariners
Contact: John McMillan
Training Available: F/V Drill Conductor Training
Saturdays ONLY
Click Here For More Information
MacMillan Offshore Training
Location: Bucksport at Maine Maritime Academy Center for Professional Mariners
Contact: John McMillan
Training Available: F/V Drill Conductor Training
Click Here For More Information
In November, the State announced its intent to pursue a multi-turbine floating offshore wind research 
array in federal waters off the coast of Maine. We are in the early planning phases of this effort. The State is seeking input from all stakeholders on where to site this project, within an identified area of interest. Given the interest and critical importance of input related to fishing activity and wildlife, we are holding a series of work sessions to gather data and input to help inform siting of the array and initial thoughts research priorities. The fisheries-focused work sessions are aimed to gather input and data from members of the commercial and recreational fishing industry and will focus on fishing activity and fisheries habitat. The wildlife work sessions will primarily focus on birds, bats, and marine mammals. Recognizing that there will be overlap between the tracts, we will hold at least one joint meeting and coordinate the efforts. We also recognize that there are important siting and research considerations that do not fit into either track and will work through those on an ad hoc basis. These efforts will also feed into the longer-term Maine Offshore Wind Roadmap effort, as appropriate.
These will be working meetings designed to have active participation and contributions from participants. Work sessions are open to the public and any interested person is welcome to attend. The first two work sessions have been scheduled and information is provided below:
Objectives
:•Set expectations and goals of working sessions
•Understand what data is currently available to determine which species are present in the research area of interest,focusing on those populations most vulnerable
•Generate ideas for additional data sets that may be useful to consider in next 2-3 months to inform siting
•Define clear next steps and schedule
the agenda will be posted here when it is available
Information regarding fisheries and the work sessions can be found here
The 67th Annual Meeting of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association is scheduled for Friday March 12th at 3pm.
This is a webinar with a panel of our legal team and a question and answer period as well as election of new Board members.
To attend you must be a current MLA member or a Legal Defense Fund donor as of March 1, 2021. A sign up link will be sent to your email on file or you may contact the office directly.
If you are unsure of your status, please contact Andi at andi@mainelobstermen.org
To renew your membership click here
To donate to the Legal Defense Fund, click here.
MLA Yellow Flag
The hearing will take place remotely. Interested persons may participate in the remote hearing by computer or phone. Interested persons need to complete an online registration form no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 25, 2021. After the registration deadline, DMR will contact interested persons with information about how to join the remote hearing. If you are unable to register online or need assistance with the form, please contact DMR.
Online registration can be completed at:
INTERVENING: Applications to intervene need to be received by DMR no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 25, 2021. DMR will decide whether to grant intervenor applications five days before the hearing. If you are granted intervenor status, you become a legal party to the proceeding. See the contact information below to request an intervenor application from DMR. You do not need to be an intervenor to participate in the proceeding.
A copy of the application and site report are available here: https://www.maine.gov/dmr/aquaculture/leases/pending/index.html
Questions may be directed to DMRAquaculture@maine.gov or (207) 624-6567.
