Page 22. MAINE COASTAL NEWS November 2008
OFF THE CUFF - THE LOBSTER ECONOMY
Continued from Page 1.
Another way to help maintain a consis- with product that has no high value. Person- worse later. This is why I say “equal and
tent economy is to keep a better eye on ally, I’d rather catch 100 pounds at $5.00 a opposite reaction.”
but that’s life. supply and demand. Let’s promote a quality pound, than 200 pounds for $2.00 a pound. At this point in time, things really are
The lobster industry in Maine supports lobster at a better price. When you have a Okay, with all of that said; let us look at tough and it won’t fix itself overnight. We
thousands of people’s lives and communi- greater supply than demand, the price will our fishing effort. In 1996, the state started must be rational and not jump too quickly to
ties, so we must maintain it’s credibility drop. Limited supply can increase the price to deal with the number of traps and people what sounds like the “magic arrow” because
throughout. Now please understand that when the demand is up. Why do we flood the in the industry. This is where the road gets there isn’t one. There is temporary help for
I’m not writing this to offend or insult any- market with a low quality lobster? We only rough. Trying to save a fishery and making people in this industry. Organizations such
one, but I feel that as a fisherman in my hurt ourselves by doing this. everybody happy is not going to happen. as FAME (Finance Authority of Maine) and
forties, soon to be forty-five, that it’s time to So when is demand high for Maine lob- With trap limits and limited entry, Maine has SBA (Small Business Administration) and
S_ _ _ or get off the pot and fix this once and ster? Maine lobster demand is at its high started down that road to a closed fishery; several other institutions are working through
for all. point when quality is low; shedder season, like it or not. Now comes the big question; Maine Business Works to provide help. I
So how can we fix or rebuild this indus- which is also summer. Remember, Maine is do we slowly strangle the industry or just only hope that we all learn a valuable lesson
try? As I was saying before, Maine must first Vacationland! My opinion is if someone close it period. Remember what I said earlier; here and come up with a plan of action that
take care of Maine. One idea that is gaining spends money to travel 1500 miles, they will sometimes fixing one thing just makes it can provide lasting solutions.
interest is processing in-state instead of buy a Maine lobster, even if the boat price is
shipping lobsters north. In order to do this, over $6.00 a pound. If we “slow fish” during
we need to have a lot of financial backing and this time, we can limit the amount of low
NOAA and NSF Commission
support from the state. The Canadian pro- quality product that we have in storage.
cessors receive support from their govern- Remember, supply Maine markets and Maine
ment, giving them a clear advantage in this processors first then ship north.
Studies of Ocean Acidification
area. If Maine can process and sell half of Some people ask, “What is slow fish-
The effects of ocean acidification will
what we ship north, this would create a ing?” Basically, slow fishing is simple; fish
Continued from Page 6.
potentially extend to coral reefs, marine
competitive market to keep Canada in check. less gear on longer sets. “What does it do?”
biology and chemistry of oceans in
plankton, other animals and plants.
Processing in Maine is and would be very It helps reduce overhead like bait and fuel
fundamental ways.
The National Research Council of the
beneficial Maine and our industry. cost while it prevents flooding our market
Absorption of large amounts of carbon
National Academy of Sciences is putting
dioxide alters the chemistry of the oceans by
together a panel of 10 to 12 scientists to
WANTED
reducing the pH of seawater. With
undertake the 18-month study. The
increasing carbon dioxide in seawater,
committee will be made up of scientists with
shellfish and corals cannot absorb enough
expertise in chemical oceanography,
MARITIME BOOKS, MAGAZINES,
calcium carbonate to build strong skeletons
paleooceanography, biological
and shells. The greater acidity slows the
oceanography, physiology, marine
PERSONAL DOCUMENTS growth and even dissolves ocean plant and
ecology, resource economics,
POSTCARDS and PHOTOGRAPHS
animal shells. The decline of these valuable
geochemistry, resource management, and
species would drastically harm U.S.
ocean-climate modeling.
fisheries.
NOAA understands and predicts
International Maritime Library
Any decline of these species would
changes in the Earth’s environment, from
also have profound effects on entire
the depths of the ocean to the surface of the
P.O. Box 710Winterport, Maine 04496
ecosystems where shellfish and
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crustaceans provide food for many other
coastal and marine resources.
species and coral provides habitat for fish.
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