Maine Lobster Catch Hits 15-Year Low Amid Climate and Regulatory Challenges

The lobster industry in Maine faces a significant downturn, with the 2023 catch dropping over 5% due to climate change and whale protection regulations.

• Maine's lobster catch in 2023 fell to 93.8 million pounds, the lowest since 2009, as climate change and whale protection regulations impact the industry.
• Fishermen were paid $4.95 per pound in 2023, a sharp rise from the previous year, despite the lower catch, reflecting fluctuating market values.
• The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99% of the world's oceans, pushing lobster populations northward and affecting local fisheries.
• Regulations to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale, which include gear changes and fishing restrictions, have added to the industry's challenges.
• The decline in lobster catch is part of a broader trend affecting global fisheries, with potential losses of up to $10 billion annually by 2050 due to climate change.

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