Page updated on 11/29/07
 

Unraveling the Economic Health of the Gulf of Maine Lobster Industry
 

 
     How much do we really know about the lobster industry?  We know that it is extremely important to the state of Maine and the region economically, socially and culturally.  We know that the fishery was worth over $285 million in 2004.  But what would happen to the fishery or the state or to local towns if there was a downturn in the lobster resource?  How do we define the fishery as a group of vulnerable small businesses?  The Gulf of Maine Research Institute is conducting “A Socio-economic Study of the Lobster Industry to better understand the industry in terms of its employment statistics, how vulnerable individual fishing businesses are to a decline in landings, and how management changes may affect various sectors of the industry and the communities in which they live.  GMRI has undertaken a survey of the lobster industry to help answer these questions.  This session focused on the type of information being collected and how the information will be used.

     Host:  Patrice McCarron, MLA