Membership
With major issues facing Maine’s lobster industry, Your membership matters more than ever. Join or renew today. New members only $200.
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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
Come to the Boston Seafood Show for FREE
The Maine Lobstermen’s Association is bringing lobstermen from Maine to the Seafood Expo North America on Monday March 18th. This is an excellent opportunity to understand how lobster fits into the seafood supply chain and what that means to you. For more info or to sign up for the FREE trip, click here.
NMFS Releases 2019 Atlantic Herring Catch Limits
On February 7, 2019, NMFS released the 2019 Atlantic Herring Catch Limits. Despite strident appeals from the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, among others, for a less severe cutback and for a redistribution of the area quotas, the agency determined that a 70% reduction in catch was necessary to keep the fishery healthy and stable. Furthermore, the area quotas were not reallocated which means if Area 1A does not meet its quota, then those fish will not be caught at all. (The total catch could be less than what is allocated.)
Click Here to Find out what this means
MLA Op-Ed in “Right Whale News” about cooperation of lobstermen
The Maine lobster industry has been actively engaged in efforts to protect right whales since the Take Reduction Team was formed in 1996. We recognize that right whales are in crisis and remain committed to doing our part to aid in the species’ recovery, as we have for more than two decades. During that time, Maine officials and lobstermen have implemented many measures to reduce the risk the lobster fishery poses to right whales. We are proud of our very high compliance rate, which demonstrates our commitment to protecting right whales. There is no protection for whales without buy-in from fishermen.
Events
A gathering of the finest fiberglass and wooden custom boat builders on the East Coast. Also exhibiting numerous manufacturers of boating equipment. Sailboats, powerboats, canoes, kayaks, and rowing boats with the builders there to discuss and sell their work
Agenda
- The primary purpose of this meeting is to make progress on the development of herring fishery specifications for fishing years 2020 and 2021. The group will review and provide input on the Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) recommendation for overfishing limits (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) limits for fishing years 2020 and 2021. The group will provide input on the purpose and need for this action and identify a range of alternatives to be included for consideration.
- Update and opportunity for input on actions under consideration by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).
- Update about the status of the Industry Funded Monitoring (IFM) Amendment.
- Opportunity to provide input on the Council’s five-year research priorities related to the herring resource and fishery.
- Other business may be discussed if time permits.
If you would like your written comments to be considered at this meeting, they must be received at the NEFMC office no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2019. Please address them to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies. Email submissions should be sent to comments@nefmc.orgFor information about meeting materials and detailed agenda, please consult the Council’s website at www.nefmc.org
MLA Members receive 25% off class price
To help commercial fishermen meet the Federal requirement 46CFR 270 (c) , McMillan Offshore Survival Training is offering a 1 day USCG approved fishing vessel drill conductor course. Upon completion , participants will be nationally certified to conduct the required monthly on board emergency drills. 46CFR 270 states: “The master or individual in charge of each vessel must ensure that drills are conducted & instruction is given to each individual on board at least once each month. Instruction and drills must ensure that each individual is familiar with their duties and their responses to at least the following contingencies.
- Abandoning the vessel
- Fighting a fire in different locations on board the vessel
- Recovering an individual from the water
- Minimizing the affects of unintentional flooding
- Launching survival craft and recovering lifeboats and rescue boats
- Donning immersion suits and other wearable personal flotation devices
- Donning a fireman’s outfit and self-contained breathing apparatus, if vessel is equipped
- Making a voice radio distress call and using visual distress signals
- Activating the general alarm
- Reporting inoperative alarm systems and fire detection systems.
WHAT TO BRING: In water training takes place so participants are requested to bring their survival suits. Suits can be provided if necessary for students. This course has been designed for the swimmer and non-swimmer alike. We also encourage participants to bring any equipment that they would like to review or discuss in class. ( EPIRB’s, distress flares etc.)
Hearing on Atlantic Herring Draft Addendum. The draft considers measures to protect spawning herring in inshore Gulf of Maine.
Hearing on Atlantic Herring Draft Addendum. The draft considers measures to protect spawning herring in inshore Gulf of Maine.
