LOBSTERMEN’SMAINEAI ASSOCIATIONNE

BBetteretter IInformed,nformed, BBetteretter DDecisionsecisions May 2012 Vol 20, No 5 Big seafood processors push lobster quality, supply, not ‘Maine’ name

By Melissa Waterman year, Cozy Harbor complies with the Global Food Safety Initiative, a global effort to harmonize interna- n April seafood businesses from around the world tional food safety standards. “It’s a guarantee to the Igathered in Brussels, Belgium, for the annual Euro- customer that we have systems in place to avoid food pean Seafood Exposition. There amid a bevy of lan- safety problems and ensure the good quality of our guages and products, Maine lobster brokers cement products,” Norton continued. “The cost is huge. We’re relationships and close the deals that will make their talking about a half a million a year.” businesses thrive. They are the prime marketers of When marketing his products, Norton focuses not Maine’s most abundant commercial species. How do on the Maine name, but sustainability and consistency they do it? What does it cost? And what impact does of supply. “Everyone is playing the geographic name the name “Maine” convey in this global marketplace? game,” he noted. “Think of Alaska or Norway or “Marketing is not advertising,” emphasized John Chile. We promote the Maine origins of our products Norton, president of Cozy Harbor Seafood in Port- only to help identify the product in the marketplace.” land. “It’s everything you do between the purchase of When Norton heads to Brussels, he is ready to talk Ensuring the quality and consistency of his seafood products is an the product and delivery to the customer.” about things such as sustainable harvesting practices, expensive process, according to Cozy Harbor president John Norton. In Norton’s view, the most important elements of price, fl avor, packaging, and freezing techniques, not “The cost is huge,” he said. Photo by Nancy Griffi n. marketing his company’s products are ensuring food merely the fact that his products hail from Maine. “The people we sell to then sell our product to retailers safety and quality as well as consistent supply. “We John Hathaway, president of Shucks Maine Lobster and chefs. They are interested in the product, not the have annual BRC certifi cation of our food safety and in Richmond, also fi nds that the Maine name is not in- name,” Hathaway explained. quality management systems,” he said. By meeting the tergal to marketing his products. Shucks provides raw, Shucks Maine Lobster decided to build demand for standards of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) each frozen lobster to seafood businesses around the world. its product by emphasizing its use as a gourmet culi- Continued on page 7

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Brunswick, ME 04011 ncreasingly, consumers want to know where their Ifood comes from. Not only where it comes from but who harvested it and how it was harvested. Being able to track your cucumber from the farm in Califor- nia where it was grown to the local grocery story has become fairly easy. But tracking a live animal, such as a lobster, from the boat to the consumer has been a daunting proposition. Until now. Thisfi sh.info, a Web site launched in 2010 by the nonprofi t organization EcoTrust Canada, allows a lob- ster consumer to learn specifi cally where his or her lob- The tag is attached to those lobsters selected by the lobsterman as high ster came from, down to the harbor, the lobsterman quality, shippable product. Photo courtesy of EcoTrust Canada. and even the name of the boat. This level of traceabil- ity for lobster had not been attained before in Canada, new trend coming from both government and from the explained Eric Enno Tamm, head of marketing and industry as well,” Tamm explained. “They saw this as a communications for Thisfi sh. way to distinguish their fi sh as more than just a com- The project started in partnership with Vancouver modity. It was a real opportunity rather than a threat.” Island fi shermen and the Canadian Council of Profes- As Thisfi sh’s Web site states, “Thisfi sh is commit- sional Fish Harvesters. “Fishermen saw traceability as a ted to helping you [the consumer] make more informed Continued on page 8

INSIDE Changes at DMR Lobsterman & sculptor Luke’s Lobster a success Maine Lobstermen’s Association Maine Lobstermen’s #1 Ave. 21 Western ME Kennebunk, 04043 page 3 page 9 page 16 2 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION May 2012

Maine Lobstermen’s Association Steaming Ahead

Advocating for a sustainable perfect storm is forming which could deal a devastating data including a recent industry-sponsored aerial survey, and lobster resource A blow to the bait supply for the lobster industry. Changes incorporate the recommendations put forward by the recent and the in management of Maine’s two primary bait sources – her- peer review panel before considering harvest restrictions. The fi shermen and ring and menhaden – are underway. A recent court decision MLA also supported the implementation of a timely, stream- ccommunities that on one of our spring favorites, alewives, could lead to further lined reporting system, with all dealers required to report on depend on it restrictions in the federal herring plan. Furthermore the status a weekly basis. SinceS 1954 of alewives is being carefully reviewed as part of a petition to The Maine lobster industry has already made signifi cant have the fi sh listed as an endangered species. adjustments to respond to changes in the availability of bait. Board of Directors The fate of the herring management plan, known as We have substantially diversifi ed the bait supply and added ••• Amendment 5, is extremely important to our industry because signifi cant cold and frozen storage capacity. However, bring- President: David Cousens herring continues to serve as our primary bait. Data from the ing in baits from regions outside the northwest Atlantic -- So. Th omaston, 207.594.7518 Maine Department of Marine Resources indicates that her- such as from fresh water sources, the Pacifi c or from foreign 1st VP: Jim Dow ring was used in 59% of traps hauled by Maine lobstermen countries -- adds the risk of introducing disease to our waters. Bass Harbor, 207.288.9846 in 2011. Although still very signifi cant, the use of herring has The Lobster Advisory Council has worked with the Univer- 2nd VP: Brian McLain fallen considerably from 83% of all traps hauled since the cuts sity of Maine to identify and better understand some of these New Harbor, 207.677.3377 to the Area 1A herring quota began in 2007. potentials risks. In response, the Legislature recently granted Sec/Treasurer: Arnold Gamage, Jr. The proposed changes to the herring management plan Maine DMR authority to regulate non-native baits. So. Bristol, 207.644.8110 focus on improved monitoring of the commercial catch. The The cumulative impacts of possible changes to the her- MLA submitted comments to the New England Fishery Man- ring and menhaden management plans, potential listing of Bob Baines, Spruce Head, 596.0177 agement Council in April supporting 100% observer coverage alewives as an endangered species, and the state’s new author- Shane Carter, Bar Harbor, 288.0236 for the largest herring vessels (which account for 98% of the ity to restrict baits for use in the lobster fi shery could result in Dwight Carver, Beals, 497.2895 landings), but urged managers to ensure that the cost of ob- bait shortages and most certainly will result in increased bait Gerry Cushman, Port Clyde, 372.6429 servers be carefully scrutinized so that it remains on par with prices. Jim Henderson, Camp Ellis, 468.4363 rates paid in other regions of the U.S. Given the importance The bottom line is that you can’t fi sh if you don’t have bait. Robert Ingalls, Bucks Harbor, 255.3418 of sustainably managing the herring fi shery, the MLA urged So the MLA invests a signifi cant amount of time advocating Mark Jones, Boothbay, 633.6054 that government funds be secured to pay for comprehensive for a sustainable and healthy bait supply for Maine lobster- Jason Joyce, Swan’s Island, 526.4109 observer coverage. men. And with record numbers of lobster being landed, this Jack Merrill, Islesford, 244-4187 Because we are the primary consumers of herring, any work promises to become more important than ever. Tad Miller, Matinicus, 372.6941 cost incurred by the herring fl eet will inevitably be passed Mike Myrick, Cushing, 354.6077 onto lobstermen. The MLA’s weekly monitoring of bait pric- As always, stay safe on the water Brad Parady, Kittery, 337.3141 es shows that the lobster industry has already absorbed a near- Kristan Porter, Cutler, 259.3306 ly 30% increase in the average cost of bait over three years Lawrence R. Pye, Small Point, 389.9131 from 2007, when herring sold for an average of $21/bushel, Willis Spear, Yarmouth, 846.9279 to 2010, when a bushel of herring sold for an average of $27. Jay Smith, Nobleboro, 563.5208 With the tightening of profi t margins in the lobster industry Craig Stewart, Long Island, 846.3158 due to soft boat price and increased operating expenses, lob- Elliott Th omas, Yarmouth, 846.6201 stermen cannot afford to absorb the cost of implementing John Williams, Stonington, 367.2731 comprehensive observer coverage in the Donald Young, Cushing, 354.6404 herring industry. Jack Young, Vinalhaven, 863.4905 Also of concern is the recent court decision which could lead to new moni- Staff toring requirements for alewives landed ••• as bycatch. The level of accountability Executive Director Patrice McCarron required under the new provisions of the 207.967.4555 Magnuson Act could lead to a shutdown [email protected] of the fi shery if an established bycatch Industry Communications level is exceeded. And any herring landed Coordinator in excess of the allowed quota in one year Melissa Waterman 207.691.2330 is automatically deducted from the next [email protected] year’s allowable catch limit. As the Maine lobster industry adjusted Whale Projects Coordinator Heather Tetreault to reductions in the herring quota over the 207.967.4555 last fi ve years, menhaden became an in- [email protected] creasingly important source of bait. DMR data indicate that menhaden was used in Education Coordinator Annie Tselikis 22% of traps hauled in 2011, compared [email protected] to 12% of traps hauled in 2006. A 2011 survey conducted by the Gulf of Maine Education Assistant Research Institute confi rmed that bait use April Gilmore [email protected] varies signifi cantly by region of the coast. Data show that 40% of the Zone F bait Communications Assistant supply is comprised of menhaden. Sarah Paquette [email protected] The Atlantic States Marine Fisher- ies Commission is moving forward with Th e MLA newsletter is published monthly. It is a new management plan for menhaden, provided for free to all Maine lobstermen thanks known as Amendment 2, to identify man- to the support of newsletter sponsors. Th is month’s agement strategies that signifi cantly re- sponsor is Orion Seafood. duce the fi shing mortality in the menha- den fi shery. This will result in reductions Maine Lobstermen’s Association in harvest and directly impact many of 21 Western Ave., #1 Maine’s lobstermen through anticipated Kennebunk, ME 04043 bait shortages and increases in bait price. [email protected] The MLA strongly urged the Com- mission to complete a comprehensive www.mainelobstermen.org new benchmark stock assessment of the Our newsletter is now online! menhaden resource using the best avail- able modeling methods, best available May 2012 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 3

Funding concerns prompt DMR changes Guest Column

By Patrick Keliher, Department of Marine Resources as “the primary state agency providing promotion- Commissioner al and marketing assistance to the commercial fi sh- ing industries.” (12 MRS §6052 sub-§3) s some may be aware from my comments at the Fishermen’s Forum in March, DMR has not done this in any signifi cant way Aor at various other lobster, scallop or urchin meetings over the past several for several decades. DMR is primarily a regulatory months, one of the fi rst things that I took on as Commissioner was a reorganization agency and I don’t think we will ever be directly of the structure of the Department of Marine Resources (DMR). Perhaps it is to be responsible for conducting marketing and promo- expected that a new administration and a new Commissioner would want to take a tion. I do think, however, we have an important fresh look at things and place emphasis on their own priorities. In this case, another role to play as a liaison to industry associations that driving force behind the need for reorganization was the drastic changes in the fed- carry out this work. eral funding sources upon which the Department historically has relied. With rapidly Toward that end and as part of the reorganiza- diminishing federal funds, it quickly became imperative that DMR take a hard look tion, I proposed - and the Governor agreed - to at prioritizing its work for maximum benefi t to the state’s fi sheries resources and the create a new position at DMR. This position will industries that depend upon them. facilitate marketing and promotion of Maine sea- food, serve as the primary contact for individuals seeking assistance in enhancing existing seafood I hope that this will be an eff ective fi rst step toward businesses or bringing new businesses to Maine, Patrick Keliher became Department raising the profi tability of all Maine fi shermen and assist businesses with locating available state of Marine Resources Commissioner in and federal resources. In addition, this position will January, 2012, after serving as Acting Commissioner since July, 2011. whether landings are strong, as in lobsters, or be responsible for providing information and con- Photo by Patrice McCarron. rebuilding, as in scallops, shrimp, and groundfi sh. ducting outreach on behalf of the Department, to keep both industry members and the general public informed with regard to De- The reorganization began with a review by senior staff of the mandates and au- partment initiatives and actions. thorities given to the Department by the legislature since the DMR was created. The I hope that this will be an effective fi rst step toward raising the profi tability of Governor has been clear that agencies should not be doing more than our legislative all Maine fi shermen whether landings are strong, as in lobsters, or rebuilding, as in mandates spell out. The Marine Resources statutes contain authorizations for all scallops, shrimp, and groundfi sh. Department programs. So we asked two important questions: As the analysis for the reorganization continued, senior staff worked together 1.) Is there anything that DMR is doing that it was not directed to do? to prioritize all Department programs and activities. This led to other changes that 2.) Is there anything that DMR was directed to do that we are not doing? were more structural in nature and meant to improve Department functions and This review was intended to ensure that DMR was not overstepping its statutory management of staff. These changes include: authorities nor failing to deliver on specifi c assignments. I was glad to see that DMR • Redirection of resources away from lower priority areas toward high prior- had not developed programs that had no basis in statute. There were, however, ity areas: A lack of suffi cient resources in the Department’s Division of authorities that the Legislature had given the Department in the past which had Public Health was keeping fi shermen out of productive shellfi sh fl ats. I re- stopped as a result of previous budget reductions. A good example of this is the moved this Division from the Bureau of Resource Management and made Department’s authority to engage in seafood marketing. By law, DMR is designated it a stand-alone component of the Department. Under a new director and with an enhanced and restructured staff, Public Health has made signifi cant Continued on page 11 4 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION May 2012 Since 1905, Sea Coast Mission tends the coast

By Rev. Scott Planting and summer programs for youth in Washington County; emergency fi nancial assistance; food t’s 4:30 a.m. on a dark November morning. The Sunbeam V, the boat of the Maine pantries; educational scholarships; the Sunbeam ISea Coast Mission, sits on her keel at low tide in the Matinicus harbor. The door Island Health Services; and a thrift shop. to the salon opens and closes as fi shermen on their way to their boats come aboard All year long, as long as the wind is blowing the Sunbeam where they are greeted by nurse Sharon Daley. The talk is quiet and less than a gale, the Sunbeam makes its regular good-natured as Sharon makes her way around the salon giving fl u shots, taking island rounds. Leaving homeport in Northeast blood pressures and drawing cholesterol blood samples. Sharon knows each of the Harbor at the break of day, the fi rst stop on the fi shermen by name and asks how they are doing. When she is done, each man breaks schedule is a day at Frenchboro. his “fast” with coffee and ship steward Pat Dutille’s freshly baked coffee cake. By As soon as the Sunbeam ties up at the ferry ter- 5:00 a.m. the salon is empty. “Lobstermen are not going to take a day off from haul- minal, islanders come on board for coffee and a ing to take care of a medical problem,” says Sharon, “and our services allow them game of cribbage, fi shermen talk with the crew, to see someone quickly and have things like blood pressure checks and lab draws while others have a medical check with Sharon, without leaving the island.” or have an appointment with their mainland The Sunbeam’s work is just one part of the efforts of the Maine Sea Coast Mis- physician via the boat’s state-of-the-art telemed- sion, based in Bar Harbor. The Mission provides spiritual, health and youth devel- icine system. Telemedicine is technology which Rev. Scott Planting is the executive director opment programs in Downeast Maine and on Maine’s islands. Rooted in a history links a patient and medical provider face-to-face of the Maine Sea Coast Mission, head- of non-denominational service, the Mission offers hope, encouragement and help through a broadband Internet connection. Tele- quartered in Bar Harbor. He began his du- to strengthen individuals, families and communities. The Maine Sea Coast Mission medicine is a tool which helps patients be seen ties as director in October, 2010, following the retirement of the Rev. Gary Delong. was founded in 1905 by two brothers who were also pastors, Angus and Alexander without going off-island, which for a family is Photos courtesy of the Sea Coast Mission. MacDonald. They took the fi rst Mission boat, a sloop called Hope, to isolated is- expensive, in some cases requiring overnight ac- land communities providing spiritual support where there were no churches, bring- commodations. The range of services provided ing books and learning opportunities, and always surprises for Christmas. In its by telemedicine include primary care visits, drug and alcohol counseling, education early years the Mission placed nurses and specialist care. and teachers on the islands it served. One islander commented about telemedicine, “When I am in the telemedicine Over the years doctors, dentists, nutri- room on the Sunbeam no one knows what I am there for. I can visit with my doctor tionists and other health care provid- while having a cup of coffee and visiting with my friends and not go off the island. ers have been carried by the Sunbeam I don’t put off appointments like I used to.” Telemedicine has improved the health to help isolated island communities. of islanders and given them much greater access to all kinds of medical care. “Whatever is needed” are the words At noon, the school children and their teachers come down to the boat for lunch. the crew of the Sunbeam live by. The children are very comfortable on the Sunbeam and very often the steward will The Mission has expanded its work hold a cooking class with them. Sea Coast Mission pastor Rob Benson, who pro- over the past 107 years, now offering vides pastoral care for six island communities, spends the afternoon making house opportunities such as after-school calls visiting shut-ins or planning an upcoming youth retreat.

Continued on page 11

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MLA supports health screenings for local fi shermen By Bill Power, trapped shrimp, compared to a range of Dear MLA: rely on us to provide them. Thank you Republished with permission from The Halifax 45 to 55 cents per pound about a year again for all the wonderful assistance Herald ago. On behalf of the Casco Bay Fish- and support that you provided to our “We were piggy-backing on the indus- ing and Islands Community Partner- Partnership! ustainability was a novel concept trial market. Buyers were not distinguish- ship at USM, we would like to extend Swhen Alen Newell and his dad Mike ing between our trapped shrimp and our gratitude and appreciation for your Jennifer Sweeney and Kristie Scribner started knocking on doors at better sea- shrimp caught by bottom trawl,” he said. support and assistance at the 37th Clinic Leaders food shops and restaurants to promote The big change this past year has Annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum in Casco Bay Fishing and Islands Com- trapped shrimp from the Canso area of been a deal with Pictou-based North Rockport. munity Partnership Chedabucto Bay [on the northeast shore Nova Seafoods, which is paying a pre- We were very pleased with the suc- of Nova Scotia]. mium price for what most people agree cess of the health screening clinic. What a difference a couple of decades is a superior product. Newell said he was Over two days, we were able to see 99 make. averaging 800 pounds per boat over the clients and provided blood pressure, “We’ve found our niche and the winter in a deal with North Nova Sea- cholesterol, and blood glucose screen- trapped shrimp fi shery is beginning to foods for 500,000 pounds. Most of the ings. We were also able to give Tdap reach its potential,” Newell said Thurs- trapped shrimp from Chedabucto Bay vaccinations and skin cancer screen- day. He said his dad devised his shrimp will be processed and packaged in brine ings this year. trap to help keep him and his fellow fi sh- and sent to Japan for the sushi market. Your donation to our group en- ermen in the Canso area busy after the Paul Logan of North Nova Seafoods abled us to buy supplies for our free collapse of the groundfi shery. said the international marketplace is rec- health screening clinic. Our clients tru- The elder Newell died at sea in 2006, ognizing the value of high-quality trap- ly appreciated these services and many Photo by Mike Young working in the little fi shery he helped caught shrimp, especially as an alternative create, and these days his son is learn- to farmed shrimp, which he said comes ing there is indeed a market for shrimp with a high environmental cost. caught in traps similar to those used for “We’re incredibly lucky to have this lobster. fi shery in Nova Scotia, and it’s high time “These days everybody is talking it was a true success,” Logan said in a about sustainability and we’ve found a news release put out by the Guysborough market for our labour-intensive high- County Inshore Fishermen’s Association. quality product,” Newell said. Newell and Ginny Boudreau of the association about seven other Chedabucto Bay fi sh- said recognition for the product provides ermen are winding down a season that an economic boost to small-scale fi sher- since November has seen them fetch- ies. “We hope that, in time, we can devel- ing in the range of $1.45 per pound for op more processing and a local market,” she said in the release. Continued on page 8 May 2012 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 7

New Recruit Biology and lobstering a good mix

By April Gilmore

heldon Pope’s boat is named Hard Shel. It’s a clever play on words, using only Sone L just like in his name. The 35-foot Duffy has been propped up on blocks for the winter, but is now ready to launch into Biddeford Pool for the upcoming fi shing season. “It was in rough shape when I bought it,” Sheldon said. The boat was formerly used to drag for scallops; he pointed out areas on the bottom side that he’s had to repair. “For the fi rst couple years it would take over a month or so to get it ready, now the projects are getting smaller,” he said. Sheldon makes sure to keep up with maintenance each season for lighter prep work the following year. “Now I can just focus on making it look beautiful,” he said. Sheldon, 22 , has been fi shing since he was 12 years old. “I’m the only one in my family that lobsters now,” he said. He was fi rst introduced to lobstering through his father, who fi shed in his younger years but decided not to make it a full-time profes- sion. “When I was 12, I wanted to work. I liked to hang around the dock and even- tually found a boat to work on. I think my parents were happy to have me out of the house for the summer,” he recalled with a laugh. Mike Boucher, a local lobsterman from Biddeford Pool, hired Sheldon to work as a sternman for a few summers. “He was a great mentor,” Sheldon said of Boucher. At 15, Sheldon bought the fi rst Hard Shel, a 30 ft. REPCO boat, fi shing 300 traps Sheldon Pope and Hard Shel on land. Photo by April Gilmore. in Zone G out of Biddeford Pool. He owned that boat for a few years and then issues on the boat and that’s always a good thing.” He has volunteered to join a crew sold it to a local fi sherman. He now fi shes a full gang of 800 traps out to the three of ten Maine lobstermen this fall working on a herring acoustic survey organized by mile line. “I don’t have a federal permit yet, but maybe someday,” he said. He baits the MLA and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. The project starts in August. his four-foot traps mostly with herring and sometimes pogies. “I buy my bait from The work will require an eight-hour night, once a week, for 14 weeks, looking for a local fi sherman that delivers to the dock,” he said. Sheldon sells his catch to The herring. Following a pre-determined track line, Sheldon will collect data from an Lobster Company in Arundel, about 25 minutes from Biddeford Pool. “It would be echosounder to locate herring as they swim inshore to spawn, recording size, abun- nice to have something closer, but it’s OK,” he said, adding that it’s worth the trip to dance and biomass. “I’ve got a coffee pot on the boat to stay awake,” Sheldon said Arundel for a decent price. about the upcoming night trips. “It should be fun.” His gear consists of some new traps he’s built himself, and some that he’s bought Sheldon likes to spend his free time with his family and friends. He enjoys hang- secondhand. Keeping up with trap maintenance is a constant chore. “I fi sh a lot ing out at his favorite local Biddeford beach, Fortune Rocks Cove. Sheldon is a re- of old traps, and that can sometimes give you problems,” Sheldon explained. Fish- cent graduate from the University of New Hampshire, receiving a bachelor’s degree ing with whale-safe rope can be another problem out on the water, but he works in Marine Biology this past year. When asked about his favorite subject in college, through it. “I try to use toggles when I fi sh sink line, that way I don’t lose too many he replied without hesitation, “Invertebrates. You know, like lobsters.” he said. As traps. The rope that doesn’t chafe fast is pretty expensive,” he said. for doing any other sort of work, Sheldon said, “I’d like to master lobstering fi rst, The past few fi shing seasons have gone quite well for Sheldon, “No mechanical maybe someday look into something else.”

Marketing continued from page 1 nary ingredient. Thus the company is conducting a World Series Lobster Chef com- In Norton’s view, marketing lob- petition, which kicked off at the Hong Kong Seafood Show last fall. A U.S. compe- ster is similar to lobster fi shing. “Pro- tition was held in March at the Boston Seafood Show and a European competition cessing and marketing seafood is an took place at the the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels. The fourth and fi nal exceptionally expensive and high-risk round of the competition will be held in Maine this fall. When the international business,” he said. “Not all lobster- contestants come to Maine, they will go lobstering with local lobstermen, process men are equally successful in catching the lobster at Shucks’ facility in Richmond, and select locally-grown vegetables for lobster. Certain things separate those their dishes. who are successful from those who At the International Boston Seafood Show in March, Hathaway continued this are not. The same is true in marketing. marketing approach. “We have a limited amount of high-end product,” he explained. Nuances separate those who are very “There are only a few businesses we want to market to. So our goal there was to successful from those who are less so. meet these people.” The company booth was set up with a cooking station and People think lobstering is easy. They people were invited in by appointment. There several chefs prepared lobster dishes think selling seafood is easy too!” In Segovia, Spain, Caitlin Hathaway and Spanish chef using the company’s products. Participants were encouraged to taste and talk to the Oscar Hernando Torrego. Photo courtesy of Shucks Maine Lobster. chefs about the dishes’ preparation and cooking techniques. “The point was to take time to talk with key people and tell the story of our product. That develops interest. They know what it is all about. It’s a precise approach, not a buckshot approach,” Hathaway said. He estimates that the company spends approximately $100,000 a Company helps identify the supply chain year to take part in the major seafood shows around the world. Norton also takes a precise approach to marketing his company’s products. roviding a clear record of their products’ movement, from harvester to con- “There are just a few people I want to meet with in Brussels,” he said. “The point Psumer, is one of the tools major seafood processors are using to distinguish is to solidify existing relationships and develop new ones. Some customers it takes their products in the global marketplace. Both Cozy Harbor and Potts Harbor more than three years to land.” Lobster in Harpswell now use the services of Trace Register, a company based in When asked what impact the name “Maine” has in marketing his lobster, Green- Seattle, Washington, to reassure their customers about the safety of their seafood. head Lobster Company president Hugh Reynolds paused for a long moment. Founded in 2005, Trace Register created a Web-based system that provides “That’s a loaded question,” he answered fi nally. “We are world-wide exporters to detailed information about food products, from the latitude and longitude where wholesalers. We do not sell to the end user. But we do identify ourselves as being a fi sh was caught to the fertilizers and pesticides used on produce. Now used by al- from Stonington.” most 450 companies around the world, the Trace Register™ system is a computer Greenhead ships to Asia as well as European countries. In the course of a year application that can be used by producers, buyers, marketers, and regulators alike. Reynolds estimates that he spends between $60,000 and $70,000 marketing his It functions as an independent, third-party “registry” into which product source product through attendance at the major seafood shows and providing information and traceability information is entered, secured, and shared among companies about those products to his buyers. The name “Maine” doesn’t have much traction throughout the supply chain. for most of his customers. Reynolds found that in the Asian markets, lobster is The Trace Register™ system allows a seafood company to include all product termed ‘Canadian lobster’ regardless of its origin. “Couple of years ago in Hong data from source to sale, including required paperwork such as fi shing licenses Kong they referred to it as ‘Boston lobster’,” he said dryly. and quotas, mate’s certifi cates, import documentation, and company-generated Reynolds’ aim is to make his customers know that Greenhead can provide reli- information such as lab reports, product certifi cates, and trans-shipment records. able, consistent and high quality lobster year-round. “They know the product they These documents are loaded and stored in the Trace Register database and can be will get and its price. When we go to Brussels we go to meet those people and keep reviewed by authorized users at any stage of the supply chain. their business. We don’t spend money to get to the people who eat lobster,” he said. 8 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION May 2012

Thisfi sh continued from page 1 choices about the authenticity, quality and sustainability of the seafood you eat, while promoting the folks who proudly stand behind their catch. We want to make the seafood business more transparent and reward those who responsibly harvest and handle your catch.” Through the Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters, lobstermen in Atlantic Canada heard about Thisfi sh and, through the Maritime Fishermen’s Union, approached EcoTrust Canada to begin a pilot project in their area. “The lobstermen were involved in developing the system,” Tamm explained. Obviously, tagging a dormant fi let of fl ounder isn’t very tricky. But fi nding a way to tag a live lobster presented a challenge. Eventually the lobstermen involved in the pilot proj- ect came up with a system they felt would work. To start with, each lobsterman is given a bundle of Thisfi sh tags. Each tag has an individual code number. The lobsterman puts the tags on as many lobsters as he pleases during the day. Then at the end of the day he uploads information about each tagged lobster into the Thisfi sh Web site. “Some will tag the hard shells, oth- ers might tag based on size,” Tamm explained. “They upload where the lobster was caught, the weather, and other specifi c information.” The person who fi nally buys and eats that lobster can type the code number into the Thisfi sh Web site and fi nd out everything imaginable about the lobster and the Photo courtesy of EcoTrust Canada. lobsterman who caught it, including how to cook it, the name of the fi shing vessel, While he hasn’t seen an increase in the price he is paid for his lobster, McInnis a map of the port in which it was landed, nutritional information and recipes. thinks that the program inevitably will drive up demand. “Sobey’s [the Canadian The pilot project drew 126 lobstermen from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island grocery chain] is strictly buying Thisfi sh haddock. I think as it gets more and more and Newfoundland, according to Tamm. Dustin McInnis, a 32-year-old lobsterman popular it will drive the price up. It’s putting our name on the global map,” McInnis based in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, is an enthusiastic participant. “I’m a member of said. Stewart Lamont, managing director of Tangier Lob- ster Company Limited, signed on to the Thisfi sh program this winter. The fi rm, located east of Halifax, believes that traceability of its lobsters could become a hallmark of the company. “We approached our harvesters to see if they would be interested in a program that will reward quality,” Lamont explained. “Traceabilty is a two-way street. The consumer knows where the lobster comes from and the harvester knows who’s getting his catch. In this Facebook era, there’s high value if a customer in Shanghai can plug the code into his iPhone at the dinner table and fi nd out who caught the lobster and when.” At fi rst just three lobstermen signed up to do the tag- ging; in April six more agreed to take part. “These are the Maritime Fishermen’s Union,” McInnis said. “Ruth McInnis [staff at the Mari- guys who fi sh in areas and in ways that put quality at the top of the agenda,” Lamont time Fishermen’s Union] brought the idea to us. It made sense so about 30 of us said. “We pay them a premium to tag this product and introduce the code numbers from southwest and northern Nova Scotia signed on for the pilot program.” into the system.” Lobstermen who tag Thisfi sh lobsters earn approximately 50 cents According to McInnis, attaching the little tag to the lobster band didn’t take more per pound. They grade their lobsters on the boat for hard shell, two-claw much time at all. He fi shes 275 traps during this eight week season, hauling about lobsters in the one to four pound range. “They ditch between 30 to 35 percent of 400 lobsters per day. During the pilot project he tagged bout three-quarters of his their catch as not good for tagging,” Lamont said. “We’ve never disputed anything daily catch. “It didn’t slow us down,” he said cheerfully. “Initially a lot of lobstermen they’ve tagged.” were scared that it would lead to more paperwork. It hasn’t. I enter the codes on my To Lamont, the Thisfi sh program links the lobsterman and the consumer to- iPhone when I’m steaming home.” gether in a way that promotes quality and eventually higher prices. “Their name is What really pleases McInnis is the fact that the connection between the lobster on it,” he said emphatically. “The harvesters want really good quality and they take and the consumer is driving up demand. “The guy I sell to was getting more and pride in it. I think this is the most exciting concept in live lobster that I’ve seen in more requests from the companies he sells to,” McInnis reported. Consumers from twenty-fi ve years.” the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and even Somalia have contacted McInnis to fi nd out more about the lobster they had purchased. “They ask questions about ev- For more information about Thisfi sh, visit the Web site at www.thisfi sh.info. erything, the weather, the type of gear I fi sh,” McInnis said.

Shrimp traps continued from page 6 Trap-caught shrimp is favoured by en- vironmentalists for its low impact on the marine ecosystem. The shrimp traps used in Chedabucto Bay are loaded with salted herring as bait. The design prevents young snow crab, which also love salted herring, from blocking the funnel leading to the containment area. “The shrimp climb up and fall in through the funnel,” said New- ell. “They arrive alive for processing.” He said shrimp trapping complements the lobster fi shery in the Canso area as the seasons do not overlap. Newell said he understood there were Garbo depends on the hard work and stewardship of Maine lobstermen. a couple of fi shermen trapping shrimp in the Mahone Bay area, but the cold and Thank you ! deep waters of Chedabucto Bay make it ideal for trapping shrimp. 3RXQG5G‡32%R[‡+DQFRFN0DLQH ‡SHWHG#JDUEROREVWHUFRP May 2012 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 9 Pemaquid lobsterman turns wood into marine beauty By Melissa Waterman It was about that age that Bailey started lobstering. “One We all know the clichéd vision of Maine lobstermen so popular in the general of my sisters married a fi sher- imagination: sturdy, taciturn, stoic about both the hardships and beauty inte- man and I began sterning with him when I was 13,” Bailey said. gral to lobster fi shing. They work hard, talk about engines and haulers, and He continued as sternman for when not fi shing, are getting ready to go fi sh. Yet many if not most lobster- seven years and then started men have other, hidden talents. This article continues our series about Maine lobstering on his own. “I had 75 lobstermen who are not only successful fi shermen but singers, poets, and artists. traps that I hauled by hand from a 16-foot skiff,” Bailey said. He arren Bailey’s mother didn’t mind her children making a mess. That, recounted then moved on to a 23-foot DBailey, a 37-year-old lobsterman who fi shes from the Pemaquid Fishermen’s Parker which he fi shed for sev- Cooperative in South Bristol, helped his three siblings and himself feel free as chil- eral years before recently buying dren to create things. That childhood freedom translated into artistic adults. Bailey a 32-foot H&H Beal. “Before now makes fi ne-quality wooden sculptures of fi sh. One sister is an architect, another my boats were always set up on is a potter and a brother works as a carpenter. the starboard side. This one’s Working with his hands seems almost a genetic trait in the Bailey family. “My port side,” Bailey said, rotating mother was known for her chickadee paintings,” Bailey explained. “I would sand his shoulders gingerly. “Takes [her wood canvases] for a nickel when I was a kid.” His grandfather was a patent some adjusting to.” maker working in the early part of the last century in Newcastle. A patent maker Bailey is alert to what he sees took the blueprints for a specifi c item, perhaps a gear in a larger piece of machinery, on the water. “You never know and then created that item in wood. A cast would be made of the wood piece and what you are going to catch,” Darren Bailey, a Pemaquid lobsterman, has been carving since from that cast, the item could be produced in quantity. he said. He has a rare ability to he was a young boy. At left is a brown trout, each scale of which Bailey took an interest in the outdoor world at a young age. Growing up in Dam- translate the creatures he en- was painted individually. Photos by Melissa Waterman. ariscotta Mills, he spent his spare time fi shing in Damariscotta Lake or hunting counters into sculptures made ducks in the area. “My mother started of fi ne wood. Bailey’s codfi sh, fl ounder and brown trout are carefully crafted of making duck decoys with me because mahogany, walnut, maple and cedar. The brown trout’s scales are individually hand- I liked to go hunting,” Bailey recalled. painted, giving the piece a natural look. “I entered [several sculptures] in the Maine “Then I started carving fi sh because I Sportsmen’s Show in August in 2010,” Bailey said. “And I left with three blue rib- like fi sh.” His mother let him use his bons.” grandfather’s carving tools. By 7th Currently Bailey is working on a sculpture of alewives. This means spending a grade, Bailey exhibited his duck decoys good amount of time at the alewife ladder in Damariscotta Mills, studying the move- at a school fair. By 8th grade, he was ments of the fi sh. “Some came in the other day,” Bailey said. “But it’s a long wait.” a licensed taxidermist. “I was catching When Bailey isn’t lobstering or carving his sculptures, he and his girlfriend Alison fi sh all the time and wanted to keep Sirois are manufacturing compost at their home in Jefferson. For the past three years them,” Bailey said with a smile. they have collected waste lobster and crab shells along with clam, mussel, oyster and

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By April Gilmore means. “The big challenge now is the vertical line issue,” he said. “It’s almost as big as the sinking line rule.” t’s really all about strength in num- Joyce believes that staying involved with the MLA is a necessity. “Lobstering is Ibers,” Swan’s Island lobsterman Ja- my livelihood and has been my family’s livelihood for a long time,” he said. The son Joyce says about the MLA. “The Joyce family has lived for generations on Swan’s Island; his family roots date back more members we have the more infl u- to the early 1800’s. “I’ve been around long enough to realize that the MLA is infl u- ence we have. The stronger the MLA ential in a lot that helps fi shermen.” is as an association, the more issues we Board Director Bob Baines also makes it a priority to be involved with the can tackle.” Joyce was nominated to the MLA. “The MLA speaks on behalf of the industry, whether you’re involved in MLA board in 2002, fi lling his father the association or not. I think it’s important to be a part of that,” he said. Baines Carleton Joyce’s longtime seat as a di- was elected to the MLA board of directors in 2005, rector. “Dad’s always been a big sup- Jason Joyce and a large halibut. with support from current Board President David porter of the MLA. Always looking for Photo by Craig O’Connell Cousens and former MLA Executive Director Pat ways to conserve the resource, ways to White. Baines, 56, of Spruce Head, has been fi shing build the brood stock, so I had that [perspective] around my whole life” he said Zone D since he was a teenager. about his father. His fi rst experience with the many state and re- Joyce, 42, started fi shing full time at age 19 in Zone B off Swan’s Island. When- gional bodies involved in the lobster industry came ever there is an opportunity to preserve Maine’s fi sheries, he’s game. For the past with the Maine Lobster Promotion Council (MLPC) three years he has fi shed using tub trawls as part of a groundfi sh study with the during its evolution in the early 1990’s. After eight Penobscot East Resource Center, setting 60,000 hooks each summer. “People say years there, he then was elected to the state Lobster ‘why bother?’” Joyce said. “And I say we’re not going to have data on the state of Advisory Council (LAC). Baines has been on the the groundfi sh industry unless someone goes out and does the research.” Living LAC for almost a decade now and chair for the past on an island has certainly infl uenced his point of view. “Swan’s depends heavily fi ve years. As chair of the LAC, he is also involved on commercial fi shing. In groundfi shing, there are a lot of questions. I’d rather see with the DMR Advisory Council. Baines holds a seat Bob Baines. Photo by what’s out there than go by hearsay.” He has also signed on to work with the MLA on the Lobster Advisory Panel for the ASMFC and Doug Cotnoir. and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute on the acoustic inshore herring study is a director on the Gulf of Maine Lobster Founda- due to start in August. “I’m quite excited,” he said about the upcoming project. tion board. Although he has a busy schedule, Baines still fi nds time to serve as the Joyce sees many benefi ts from the MLA. “I like being able to talk to other fi sh- president of the Spruce Head Co-op. ermen about what’s going on in their port,” he said. “MLA lets members know Baines said, “Whether it’s whale rules, bait issues or lack of profi table market- about what bills to comment on. If I pick up anything on my radar, I come back ing, MLA is in the forefront of those issues. I wanted to be a part in shaping that and tell others what to be prepared for.” MLA board meetings keep Joyce up to voice.” If there is one thing that people should know about the MLA, he added, date on what’s happening with current and proposed fi shing regulations. He feels it’s “how awesome our executive director is.” He noted Patrice McCarron’s many that it’s a constant battle today to ensure that lobstering can be done by traditional accomplishments and how hard she works for the industry. He also feels fortunate for the friendships he has made along the way as a director. “The board has a wealth of knowledge and experience,” he said. “I’ve gained a lot from our board. It’s helped me to be a better fi sherman.”

Artist continued from page 9

shrimp shells from local restaurants and a nearby seafood processor. “Dan Reny, of Muscongus Bay Lobster [in Round Pond], has been great,” Bailey said. “He set up stations [at the restaurant], made the staff take the bands off before cooking the lobsters, and then stored the shells in barrels in the refrigerator. He took it seriously because it promoted his business.” Bailey collects up to ten 150 to 200-pound barrels each week for three to four months as well as sawdust from a local lumber mill, horse manure from a local farm, and peat moss from N.C. Hunt in Damariscotta. The elements are mixed together at his property and then, many months later, packaged as Fisherman to Farmer compost. “The name means that there’s a range of ingredients in there from sea to land. It’s sort of a circular system,” Bailey explained. After three years, Bailey and Sirois are ready to sell their product, which is approved for use in organic gardening. “It’s at the Sheepscot General Store now and will be at Louie Dow’s, Ames Supply and N.C. Hunt in May,” Bailey said. “You can always get it direct from me though!”

Cod, brown trout, and fl ounder crafted by Darren Bailey. Photo by Melissa Waterman. May 2012 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 11

Sea Coast Mission continued from page 4

At the end of a full day, the Sunbeam sails to Isle au Haut, arriving in time to Shaw Fund quietly helps Maine welcome neighbors on board for dinner. Early the next morning, the mail boat ties up next to the Sunbeam and everyone comes on the boat for a hearty break- fi shermen’s families fast. When the mail boat sets off for Stonington, the telemedicine appointments begin. Depending on the tide, the Sunbeam soon will set off to Matinicus where the he Sea Coast Mission is not the only entity providing support to those along same hospitality and help will be offered. As Sharon explains, “We get to be a part Tthe coast and on the islands, though it is the most visible. The Shaw Fund for of the community. Our offer to help is usually well received.” Mariners’ Children provides short term fi nancial assistance to the children and The Sunbeam functions as a coffee shop and restaurant, a community center, widows of those who work on the sea. And it has quietly done so for 159 years. doctor’s offi ce, classroom, chapel and funeral parlor. One islander sums up the Robert Gould Shaw, who started the fund, was born in Gouldsborough, as it importance of the Sunbeam this way: “I feel better just knowing the Sunbeam is in was then called, in 1776. He was the son of Francis Shaw, a Boston merchant who the harbor.” founded the town with Robert Gould. Young Robert Gould Shaw left Goulds- Because the boat can’t get to all the outer islands on a regular basis, a new boro in 1789 to work as an indentured servant in his uncle’s accounting fi rm in program of the Sea Coast Mission is to work with island communities to establish Boston. Eventually he went into business for himself, opening his fi rst trading land-based telemedicine facilities. The same state-of-the-art telemedicine equip- company in Boston in 1799. Another uncle, Samuel Shaw, and his own father-in- ment available on the Sunbeam would be installed in land-based clinics. Thus far law, Samuel Parkman, were both very active in the East Indies trade. Shaw was the Mission has worked with Swan’s Island and Isleford to set up telemedicine well connected in the Boston trading world and eventually grew quite rich. He clinics. These clinics are staffed by medical technicians trained to use the equip- owned many merchant ships that sailed throughout the world. ment.The same range of services is made available on the islands as on the Sun- Unlike many other merchants, Shaw hired his own crews rather than using an beam. agent. He discharged the men himself at the end of each voyage, thus getting to “The Mission has been providing the same quality of service for over a cen- know them more personally than most ship owners. When he died in 1853, he tury. We are doing basically the same thing we did when the fi rst Sunbeam brought left a bequest of $110,000 in his will for the purpose of supporting the widows a nurse out to an island. The way we deliver services has changed, but we are still and children of mariners. Since that time the Shaw Fund for Mariners’ Children committed to establishing trusting relationships. And that starts with a conversa- has provided aid on an individual basis to mariners and their families in Maine, tion over a cup of coffee,” said executive director Scott Planting. Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

DMR continued from page 3

progress in opening acres of shellfi sh fl ats that are now determined to be safe for human consumption. • A clear separation between the science and policy: Under the new struc- ture, there is a clearer division between the policy branch of the Depart- ment and the science branch. Staff from both these offi ces must work closely together, yet the roles of each must be clear. This delineation will be especially important as the Department begins development of fi sher- ies management plans for fi sheries in state waters. • Cross-training of staff to improve services: In all areas of the Depart- We understand your industry. ment we are looking at opportunities for staff to become cross-trained to carry out different duties as work changes throughout the year. This type We’re dedicated to your success. of approach will allow us to bring focused efforts to bear when needed, particularly in those fi sheries that we have to manage more intensively through the rebuilding process.

I know that change is not always comfortable. But it is my hope that your ex- periences with the changes at DMR will be positive ones that improve the services you receive as well as improve your bottom line. Providing financing for... I want to assure you that the reorganization has not diminished Marine Patrol u commercial fishing & seafood in any way. My goal is to ensure that the Bureau of Marine Patrol is fully staffed u within each section. There is no plan to reduce science staff in the Boothbay forest products Harbor laboratory, and we will be fi lling currently vacant positions to enhance u agriculture & food the policy staff in Hallowell. The Governor strongly supports DMR’s work in u rural property preserving and enhancing jobs and economic opportunity in Maine’s working wa- 800.831.4230 terfronts, and the work done for the reorganization should serve us well in the AUBURN | PRESQUE ISLE | 800.831.4640 upcoming zero-based budgeting exercise. If you have questions as these efforts farmcreditmaine.com move forward, please feel free to contact me, or any of my staff. Proud member of the Farm Credit System

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ACCOUNTANTS Lunds Fisheries Inc. Seafood.com News Chase Leavitt & Co. Polyform US Williams CPA Group LLC David Brand 8 White Pine Lane 72 Commercial St. 7030 S 224th PO Box 839 997 Ocean Dr. Lexington, MA 02421 781-861-1441 Portland, ME 04112 Kent, WA 98032 Rockport, ME 04856 207-236-8781 Cape May, NJ 08204 609-884-7600 [email protected] 207-772-6383 253-872-0300 dbrand@lundsfi sh.com [email protected] fenders@polyfor AUTOMOTIVE www.lundsfi sh.com ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT www.chaseleavitt.com www.polyformus Bell Power Systems Inc. Eastern Tire & Auto Service New England Fish Co. Bob Tokarczyk Grundens USA Ltd Promens Saint J 70 Park St Suzannah Raber, Gage Ashbaug 34 Plains Rd PO Box 2068 Mike Kilpatrick Rockland, ME 04841 446 Commercial St. Essex, CT 06426 Poulsbo, WA 98370 PO Box 2087 207-594-5250 Portland, ME 04101 860-767-7502 / 800-225-8669 360-779-4439 / 800-323-7327 Saint John, NB E www.easterntireinc.com 207-253-5626 [email protected] www.bellpower.com [email protected] 800-567-3966/5 www.raberfi sheries.com www.grundens.com sales.sj@promen Harold C Ralph Chevrolet Blackmore Electronics www.promens.c Steve Ralph O’Hara Corportation Blaine Blackmore Guy Cotten, Inc PO Box A 120 Tillson Ave PO Box 82 782 South Water St Spongex LLC Waldoboro, ME 04572 800-310-5321 Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-0405 Stonington, ME 04681 New Bedford, MA 02740 James Welch [email protected] [email protected] 207-367-2703 508-997-7075 / 800-444-6050 3002 Anaconda [email protected] Tarboro, NC 27 Hews Company LLC Purse Line Bait Pete’s Marine Electronics www.guycottenusa.com 252-563-1101 190 Rumery St 32 Bakers Wharf Rd 101 Washington Rd jwelch@spongef South Portland, ME 04106 Sebasco Estates, ME 04565 Waldoboro, ME 04572 207-350-2500 Hamilton Marine www.spongexfoa 207-767-2136 / 800-234-4397 207-389-9155 [email protected] 155 E Main St [email protected] [email protected] Searsport, ME 04974 Superior Marine www.hewsco.com Midcoast Marine Electronics 207-548-2985 15 Murray Drive Superior Bait and Salt 532 Main St. Raymond, ME 0 Island Fishing Gear & Auto Parts Glenn Hall Rockland, ME 04841 100 Fore St. 207-655-4492 PO Box 292 21 Balsam Lane 207-691-3993 www.midcoastmarine.com Portland, ME 04101 superioroffi ce@f Stonington, ME 04681 Tenants Harbor, ME 04860 207-774-1772 www.superiorma 207-367-5959 207-372-8925 Sawyer & Whitten Marine [email protected] 416 Commericial St 20 Park Dr. WD Matthews M Worcesters Lobster Bait Portland, ME 04101 207-879-4500 Rockland, ME 04841 901 Center Street Morrison Chevrolet/Fisher Plow Bruce Worcester 207-594-8181 / 800-639-2715 Auburn, ME 042 Distributor 259 Bowden Point Rd Sawyer & Whitten Marine [email protected] 207-784-9311 121 Downeast Highway Prospect, ME 04981 207-469-7585 118 Tillson Ave www.hamiltonmarine.com jgreven@wdmatt Ellsworth, ME 04605 877-523-6118 [email protected] Rockland, ME 04841 Discounts for MLA members www.wdmatthew www.morrisonchevrolet.com 207-594-7073 www.sawyerwhitten.com BOAT BUILDERS/BOAT REPAIR [email protected] Island Fishing Gear & Auto Parts Vessel Services In Newcastle Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep SW Boatworks PO Box 292 1 Portland Fish P 573 Rt. 1 Stewart Workman FINANCIAL & INVESTMENT SERVICES Stonington, ME 04681 207-367-5959 Portland, ME 04 Newcastle, ME 04553 358 Douglas Highway Damariscotta Bank & Trust Co [email protected] vesselservices.com,v 207-563-8138 / 888-944-5337 Lamoine, ME 04605 25 Main St [email protected] [email protected] Damariscotta, ME 04543 Jeff ’s Marine, Inc Viking Wet Weat www.newcastlemotorcars.com www.swboatworks.com 207-563-8121 2 Brooklyn Heights R. Scott Edwards 15% all parts and service to MLA mem- [email protected] PO Box 236 Alliance Mercant bers with card. Not to be combined with Wesmac Custom Boats www.damariscottabank.com Thomaston, ME 04861 207-354-8777 2557 Park Road other offers. PO Box 56 [email protected] Lake Oswego, O Surry, ME 04684 207-667-4822 Farm Credit of Maine ACA 503-803-6660 Weirs Motor Sales Inc [email protected] www.wesmac.com 615 Minot Ave Logtek Inc scotte@alliancem 1513 Portland Rd 2% discount on fi berglass components Auburn, ME 04210 Tim Bourque & James Roy (ME sales) www.alliancemer Arundel, ME 04046 207-784-0193 800-831-4230 Box 98, RR 2 207-985-3537 DOCUMENTATION SERVICE [email protected] Tusket, NS BOW 3M0 Canada HYDRAULICS [email protected] www.weirsgmc.com Coastal Documentation www.farmcreditmaine.com 207-510-1763 / 888-840-1089 All Points Marine 111 Dennision Rd [email protected] David Allard BAIT DEALERS Spruce Head, ME 04859 207-596-6575 Maine Financial Group [email protected] 330 Great Island Alfred Osgood [email protected]; Jim Amabile Narragansett, RI PO Box 358 www.coastaldocumentation.com 15 Pleasant Hill Rd Maine Coast Petroleum, Inc 401-284-4044/80 Vinalhaven, ME 04863 Scarborough, ME 04074 PO Box 295 [email protected] ww 207-863-2518 [email protected] Northeast Marine Survey, Inc 207-885-5900 800-974-9995 Tenants Harbor, ME 04860 PO Box 231 j.amabile@mainefi nancialgroup.com 207-372-6962 [email protected] Coastal Hydraulic Bessy Bait LLC Bailey Island, ME 04003 207-833-0954 PO Box 2832 155 R Batchelder Rd [email protected] Rockland Savings Bank Midcoast Marine Supply Seabrook, NH 0 Seabrook, NH 03874 www.northeastmarinesurvey.us Harry Mank 153 New County Rd 603-474-1914 603-300-2846 / 603-300-2849 10% off the commercial rate 582 Maine Street Thomaston, ME 04861 sales@coastalhyd [email protected] Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-8465 207-594-0011 10% discount on al www.bessybait.com EDUCATION AND TRADE SHOWS www.rocklandsavingsbank.com [email protected] Diversifi ed Business Communications www.midcoastmarinesupply.com Cushing Diesel, L Bait Man Co. LLC PO Box 7437 The First 26 Spear Mill Rd Al West Portland, ME 04112 207-842-5500 PO Box 940 Neptune Inc Cushing, ME 04 PO Box 69 [email protected] Damariscotta, ME 04543 39 Slater St 354-0600, cell 54 Prospect Harbor, ME 04669 www.divbusiness.com 207-563-3195 / 800-564-3195 Attleboro, MA 02703 diesedave6312@y 207-632-7267 [email protected] [email protected] 508-222-8313 / 800-642-7113 Mount Desert Oceanarium www.thefi rst.com [email protected] Hews Company L Cape Porpoise Lobster Co Inc PO Box 696 www.neptune-inc.com 190 Rumery St 184 Beachwood Ave Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 FISHING, MARINE & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES South Portland, M Kennebunkport, ME 04046 207-288-5005 [email protected] All Points Marine Neptune Marine Products Inc 207-767-2136 / 8 207-967-0900 Free admission to MLA members PO Box 543 PO Box 2068 [email protected] [email protected] Narragansett, RI 02882 401-284-4044 Port Townsend, WA 98368 www.hewsco.com www.capeporpoiselobster.com Maine Fishermens Forum [email protected] www.apmco.us 206-789-3790 PO Box 288 Discounts available to MLA members www.neptunemarineproducts.com Lonnie’s Hydraul Channel Fish Co Bath, ME 04530 207-442-7700 227 Middlesex R 370 East Eagle St chilloa@mefi shcoop.org Bath Lobster Supply New England Marine & Industrial Inc. Topsham, ME 0 East Boston, MA 02128 340 State Rd, Suite B 200 Spaulding Turnpike 207-725-7552 617-569-3200 Maine Maritime Museum West Bath, ME 04530 Portsmouth, NH 03801 lou@channelfi shco.com Amy Lent 207-386-3225 603-436-2836 / 800-492-0779 Marine Hydraulic 243 Washington Street www.brookstrapmill.com [email protected] 17 Gordon Dr Dropping Springs Lobster & Bait Co. Bath, ME 207-443-1316 www.newenglandmarine.com Rockland, ME 0 Anthony Robinson [email protected] buoysticks.com 207-594-9527 6A Portland Fish Pier www.mainemaritimemuseum.org 3628 Turner Ridge Rd North Atlantic Power marinhyd@midc Portland ME, 04101 Free admission to MLA members Somerville, ME 04348 207-549-7204 Sam Profi o 207-272-6278 [email protected] 15 Continental Dr. INDUSTRY ORGANIZAT 207-518-9049 Penobscot Marine Museum www.plantebuoysticks.com Exeter, NH 03833 Gulf of Maine L 5 Church St 603-418-0470 sprofi [email protected] PO Box 523 Searsport, ME 04974 207-548-2529 10% off all service repairs Kennebunk, ME Show your MLA card for free entry 207-985-8088 er May 2012 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 13

Highliner business members are noted in BOLD.

Island Fishermen’s Wives LEGAL SERVICES Cozy Harbor Seafood Inc Kent’s Wharf PO Box 293 Doyle & Nelson PO Box 389 31 Steamboat Hill 2 Stonington, ME 04681 150 Capitol St Portland, ME 04112 Swans Island, ME 04685 207-367-5579 [email protected] Augusta, ME 04330 207-622-6124 207-879-2665 207-526-4186 [email protected] rmus.com [email protected] [email protected] s.com Island Institute www.doylenelson.com www.cozyharbor.com Kips Seafood Co PO Box 648 117 River Rd John Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-9209 Howard and Bowie Craig’s All Natural Cushing, ME 04563 207-354-8997 k [email protected] Clayton Howard 25 Winecellar Rd. PO Box 460 Durham, NH 03824 Lake Pemaquid Inc E2L 3T5 Maine Import/Export Dealers Association Damariscotta, ME 04543 603-397-5331 PO Box 967 506-633-0101 PO Box 10228 207-563-3112 [email protected] Damariscotta, ME 04543 ns.com Portland, ME 04104 207-775-1612 207-563-5202 om [email protected] Nicholas H Walsh PA Cranberry Isles Fishermens Coop [email protected] www.mainelobsterdealers.com PO Box 7206 PO Box 258 www.lakepemaquid.com Portland, ME 04112 Islesford, ME 04646 Maine Lobster Promotion Council 207-772-2191 [email protected] 207-244-5438 Linda Bean’s Maine Lobster Rd. 2 Union St. www.nicholas-walsh.com PO Box 368 7886 Portland, ME 04101 25% off hegal services to MLA members F W Thurston Co Inc Rockland, ME 04841 207-975-2502 207-541-9310 PO Box 178 [email protected] foam.com [email protected] LOBSTER/SEAFOOD/WHOLESALE/RETAIL Bernard, ME 04612 www.LindaBeansMaineLobster.com am.com www.lobsterfrommaine.com Atlantic Edge Lobster 207-244-3320 71 Atlantic Ave Little Bay Lobster Inc Products Inc Maine Port Authority Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 Finest Kind Scenic Cruises 158 Shattuck Way 16 State House Station 207-633-2300 [email protected] PO Box 1828 Newington, NH 03801 603-431-3170 04071 Augusta, ME 04333 Ogunquit, ME 03907 [email protected] 207-624-3560 Atwood Lobster Co [email protected] www.littlebaylobster.com fairpoint.net [email protected] PO Box 202 Island Rd www.fi nestkindcruises.com arineprod.com www.maineports.com Spruce Head, ME 04859 Lobster Products Inc 207-596-6691 www.atwoodlobster.com Fishermen’s Heritage Lobster Coop 64 Tidal Falls Rd Machinery Co Maine Sea Grant PO Box 359 Hancock, ME 04640 207-422-6238 t 5784 York Complex, Bldg 6 Bayleys Lobster Pound Friendship, ME 04547 [email protected] 210-6456 Orono, ME 04469 207-581-1435 PO Box 304 207-832-6378 [email protected] Scarborough, ME 04070 Millers Wharf Lobster LLC thews.com www.seagrant.umaine.edu 207-883-4571 Friendship Lobster Coop PO Box 486 ws.com [email protected] www.bayleys.com PO Box 307 Tenants Harbor, ME 04860 Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Assn Friendship ME 04547 207-372-8637 nc. Jeffrey Cockburn Beals Jonesport Coop Inc. 207-832-4435 Pier 18 Mortland Rd. PO Box 195 Muscongus Bay Lobster 101 207-772-5718 Searsport, ME 04984 207-548-1077 Jonesport, ME 04649 Garbo Lobster 28 Landing Rd [email protected] [email protected] 207-479-2020 PO Box 334 Round Pound, ME 04564 [email protected] Hancock, ME 04640 207-529-2251 ther Gear Penobscot East Resource Center 207-422-3217 [email protected] s PO Box 27 BBS Lobster Trap [email protected] www.mainefreshlobster.com tile, Inc. Stonington, ME 04681 188 Pettegrow Point Rd 207-367-2708 Machiastport, ME 04655 Georgetown Fishermen’s Coop New England Fish Co. R. 97034 [email protected] 89 Moores Tpke Suzannah Raber, Gage Ashbaug www.penobscoteast.org Calendar Islands Maine Lobster LLC Georgetown, ME 04548 446 Commercial St. mercantile.com 6A Portland Fish Pier Portland, ME 04101 cantile.com INSURANCE Portland, ME 04101 Glens Lobster Co 207-253-5626 [email protected] Allen Insurance and Financial 207-541-9140 12 Abner Point Rd www.raberfi sheries.com Chris Guptill [email protected] Bailey Island, ME 04003 e 34-36 Elm St., PO Box 578 www.calendarislandsmainelobster.com 207-833-6138 New Harbor Co-op Camden, ME 04847 [email protected] Linda Vannah Rd 207-263-4311 Canobie Seafoods, Inc PO Box 125 02882 [email protected] 1077 Bar Harbor Rd Graffam Brothers Seafood Market New Harbor, ME 04554 00-682-2628 www.alleninsuranceandfi nancial.com Trenton, ME 04605 PO Box 340 207-677-2791 [email protected] ww.apmco.us 207-667-2250 Rockport, ME 04856 207-236-8391 Atlantic Insurance & Benefi ts [email protected] [email protected] Orion Seafood International cs Inc 58 High St www.lobsterstogo.com 20 Ladd St. Belfast, ME 04915 Cape Porpoise Lobster Co Inc Portsmouth, NH 03801 603-433-2220 03874 207-338-9787 / 800-948-1457 184 Beachwood Ave Hannaford Brothers [email protected] [email protected] Kennebunkport, ME 04046 145 Pleasant Hill Rd. d.com www.atlantic-insurance.com 207-967-0900 Scarborough, ME 04074 Pemaquid Fishermen’s Coop ll in stock items. [email protected] 207-833-2911 PO Box 152 Chapman & Chapman www.capeporpoiselobster.com [email protected] New Harbor, ME 04554 LLC PO Box1030 207-677-2801 [email protected] Damariscotta, ME 04543 Captain Dutch Lobster Co. Holden Seafood Corporation 4563 207-563-3143 / 800-370-3143 PO Box 393 93 E 7th Street PJ Lobster Company 42-5399 [email protected] South Thomaston, ME 04858 New York, NY 10009 212-387-8487 Alan Leck, Jonathan Seavey yahoo.com. 207-596-7655 [email protected] 399 Northern Ave The Compass Insurance Group [email protected] www.lukeslobster.com Boston, MA 02210 617-946-2930 LLC Paul Miner [email protected] PO Box 880 Chrisanda Corp. HR Beal & Sons Inc www.pjlobster.com ME 04106 Waldoboro, ME 04572 207-790-2300 9 Ferry Rd 182 Clark Point Rd 800-234-4397 [email protected] Lewiston, ME 04240 Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 Port Clyde Fishermen’s Coop m www.lobsterboatinsurance.com 800-448-7663 207-244-3202 PO Box 103 m [email protected] [email protected] Port Clyde, ME 04855 207-372-8922 InSphere Insurance Solutions www.bealslobster.com lic Inc Rick Williams Conary Cove Lobster Co Inc Port Lobster Co Inc Rd PO Box 74 83 Conary Cove Rd Interstate Lobster Inc PO Box 729 04086 Prospect Harbor, ME 04669 Deer Isle, ME 04627 PO Box 269 Kennebunkport, ME 04046 207-963-4111 207-348-6185 Harpswell, ME 04079 207-833-5516 207-967-2081 [email protected] [email protected] www.portlobster.com c Engineering Co Inc Cooks Lobster House Island Seafood, LLC Smithwick & Mariners Insurance PO Box 12 32 Brook Rd Portland Shellfi sh Co, Inc 04841 366 US Route One Bailey Island, ME 04003 207-833-6641 Eliot, ME 03903 92 Waldron Way Falmouth, ME 04105 [email protected] 207-439-8508 Portland, ME 04103 oast.com 207-781-5553 800-370-1883 www.cookslobster.com [email protected] 207-767-1625 [email protected] info@pshellfi sh.com TIONS Discounted vessel insurance for MLA Corea Lobster Cooperative ‘Keag Store www.pshellfi sh.com Lobster Foundation members. Additional 5% discount if Coast PO Box 99 4 Elm St, PO Box 76 Guard-approved Fishing Vessel Drill Con- Corea, ME 04624 S. Thomaston, ME 04858 207-596-6957 Post Brothers Inc E 04043 ductor course completed within 5 years. 207-963-7936 PO Box 541 [email protected] [email protected] Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-5824 14 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION May 2012

Quahog Lobster Inc Vinalhaven Fishermens Coop Nautilus Marine Fabrication, Inc. SALT 5 Lobster Lane 11 Main St, Box 366 13 Industrial Way Maine Salt Company Harpswell, ME 04079 Vinalhaven, ME 04863 207-863-2263 Trenton, ME 04605 207-667-1119 677 Coldbrook Rd 207-725-6222 [email protected] [email protected] Hermon, ME 04401 207-848-3796 [email protected] [email protected] www.mainesalt.com Weathervane Seafoods Inc New England Propeller Inc. Ready Seafood 31 Badgers Island West 9 Apollo Eleven Rd Superior Bait and Salt Hobson’s Wharf Kittery, ME 03904 207-439-0920 Plymouth, MA 02360 508-747-6666 Glenn Hall Portland, ME 04112 207-541-3672 www.weathervaneseafoods.com [email protected], www.neprop.com 21 Balsam Lane [email protected] Tenants Harbor, ME 04860 www.readyseafood.com Winter Harbor Fishermen’s Coop REAL ESTATE 207-372-8925 23 Pedleton Rd. Megunticook Real Estate Seafood Contract Brokers, LLC Winter Harbor, ME 04693 207-963-5857 Ed Glover TRAP BUILDERS STOCK & SUPPLIES 30 Western Ave, Suite 206 [email protected] 19 Birds Loop Rd All Points Marine Gloucester, MA 01930 978-515-7683 Owls Head, ME 04854 207-504-7606 PO Box 543 kbfl [email protected] MARINE ENGINES [email protected] Narragansett, RI 02882 401-284-4044 www.seafoodrisk.com All Points Marine www.coastalmainere.com [email protected] www.apmco.us PO Box 543 Discounts available to MLA members Seaview Lobster Co. Narragansett, RI 02882 401-284-4044 REFRIGERATION SERVICES PO Box 291 [email protected] www.apmco.us Applied Refrigeration Services Branch Brook Farm Kittery, ME 03904 Discounts available to MLA members 7C Commons Avenue Ralph Dean 207-439-1599 Windham, Maine 04062 207-893-0145 26 Sawmill Lane [email protected] Bell Power [email protected]; Thomaston, ME 04861 www.seaviewlobster.com 34 Plains Rd. www.appliedrefrigeration.com 207-354-8123 [email protected] Essex, CT 06426. $250 off new installations Sea Hag Seafood 860-767-7502/800-255-8669 Brooks Trap Mill 48 Wallston Rd. [email protected] RESTAURANTS 211 Beechwood St Tenants Harbor, ME 04860 Barnacle Billys Inc Th omaston, ME 04861 207-691-5391 [email protected] Milton Cat PO Box 837 207-354-8763 PO Box 960 Ogunquit, ME 03907 207-646-5575 [email protected] Shengfei Trading Co. Scarborough, ME 04070 207-833-9586 [email protected] www.barnbilly.com Anson Chen [email protected] Eaton Trap Co Inc 11974 Lebanon Rd, Suite 124 Bowdoin College Dining Services 12 Birchwood Rd Cincinnati, OH 45241 Northern Lights/Lugger 3700 College Station Woolwich, ME 04579 718-313-8294 8 Connector Rd Brunswick, ME 04011 207-443-3617 [email protected] Andover, MA 01810 207-725-3432 [email protected] [email protected] www.yimail68.com 978-475-7400 / 800-762-0166 [email protected] Cod End, LLC Friendship Trap Company Shucks Maine Lobster www.northern-lights.com Susan Miller 570 Cushing Rd 150 Main St, Suite 4 PO Box 224 Friendship, ME 04547 Richmond, ME 04357 NEWSPAPERS Tenants Harbor, ME 04860 207-372-6782 207-354-2545 800-451-1200 207-737-4800 Commercial Fisheries News [email protected] www.codend.com [email protected] [email protected] PO Box 600 10% off Cook House and Market www.friendshiptrap.com www.shucksMaine.com Deer Isle, ME 04627 Discounts from 5 -10% depending onproduct 207-348-1057/800-989-5253 Newick’s Hospitality Group, Inc for MLA members who show their card. South Bristol Fishermen’s Co-op sjones@fi sh-news.com 431 Dover Point Rd Brenda Bartlett Discounted annual subscription Dover, NH 03820 Portland Trap PO Box 63 603-742-3205 www.newicks.com 26-28 Union Wharf South Bristol, ME 04568 Fishermen’s Voice Portland, ME 04101 800-244-8727 207-644-8224 PO Box 253 Phil’s Lobster Roll Shop [email protected] [email protected] Gouldsboro, ME 04607 Shelly McLellan www.brookstrapmill.com www.southbristolcoop.com 207-963-7195 PO Box 578 Boothbay, ME 04532 Sea Rose Trap Co Spruce Head Fishermen’s Coop National Fisherman 137 Pleasant Hill Rd. 275 Island Rd 121 Free St. Th e Clam Shack Scarborough, ME 04074 South Th omaston, ME 04858 Portland, ME 04112 Steve Kingston 207-730-2063 207-594-7980 PO Box 6200 [email protected] PROPELLERS Kennebunkport, ME 04046 www.searosetrap.com Stonington Lobster Coop Accutech Marine Propeller Inc. 207-967-3321 [email protected] PO Box 87 24 Crosby Rd Unit 6 www.theclamshack.net TRUCK REPAIR/LEASING Dover, NH 03820 Stonington, ME 04681 207-367-2286 Cushing Diesel, LLC [email protected] 603-617-3626 SAFETY TRAINING 26 Spear Mill Rd [email protected] McMillan Offshore Survival Training Cushing, ME 04563 354-0600, (c) 542-5399 www.accutechmarine.com Swans Island Fishermens Coop PO Box 411 [email protected]. PO Box 116 20% off propeller repair to MLA members. Belfast, ME 04915 207-338-1603 Swans Island, ME 04685 Discounts for new propellers, shafting, hardware. [email protected] Howling Hill Transportation 207-526-4327 [email protected] www.mcmillanoffshore.com PO Box 20 Bucksport, ME 04416 207-460-0134 [email protected].

Why should you be an MLA member? Ask the Directors. Wa2much Trucking Greg Holmes “I’m getting to be one of ´7KHPHHWLQJVDUHDOZD\V PO Box 354 the older guys out there, so LQWHUHVWLQJ DQG WKHUH DUH Tenants Harbor, ME 04860 542-9606 ,·PÀJKWLQJIRUDZD\WRNHHS JRRGSHRSOHRQWKHERDUG [email protected] young guys fishing. The ,WKLQNHYHU\SHUVRQLQWKH LQGXVWU\ KDV EHHQ JRRG WR industry should belong to PHVR,ZDQWWRSD\LWEDFN DQ LQGXVWU\ RUJDQL]DWLRQ ,ZDQWWRPDNHVXUHLW·VJRRG ,W·V WKH EHVW FKDQFH ZH IRU \RXQJHU JX\V WKH ZD\ LW KDYHWREHUHSUHVHQWHGµ KDVEHHQIRUPHµ 7DG0LOOHU0DWLQLFXV 'ZLJKW&DUYHU%HDOV

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Apply today! Fill out the application on page 2, call 967-4555 or email [email protected]. May 2012 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 15 Summertime diners demand Maine lobster

By Shelley Wigglesworth

veryone knows that there is nothing like the taste of fresh Maine lobster. Maine Erestaurants depend on the allure of Homarus americanus to balance their bottom line each season. When tourists arrive each summer, they fl ock to the state’s thou- sands of take-out stands, dockside restaurants, casual eateries and fi ne dining estab- lishments. And those businesses are well prepared to accommodate that demand by featuring lobsters prominently on their menus. “Lobster represents a very signifi cant ‘Center of the Plate’ seafood for almost all of the restaurants in Maine,” said Dick Grotton, president of the Maine Restau- rant Association. “My sense is that lobster in all forms may represent as much as 20 percent of restaurant sales in season. Of course, many restaurants that specialize in lobster would enjoy a much higher use percentage.” Steve Kingston is the owner of Clam Shack Seafoods, a seasonal take-out stand in Kennebunkport known to serve approximately 250,000 customers each season. “Thirty-fi ve percent of our sales are lobster, with 25 percent of that number being lobster rolls,” Kingston said. Just a few miles up the coast in Cape Porpoise, Allen Daggett owns a small dock- side restaurant called Cape Pier Chowder House. “My estimate for the number of Maine’s coastal economy gets a boost each summer as visitors fl ock to seafood restaurants to consume customers served for the year (the restaurant is open seven months each year) would tasty lobsters, such as these from Cape Porpoise Lobster Company. Photo by David Heald. be about 72,000 people,” Daggett said. “Revenue from lobster, counting steamed lobster, lobster rolls, lobster stew, fried lobster and lobster salad, is about $250,000 their local lobster shacks around the coast,” Tselikis noted. “The initial frustration is dollars.” understandable, but when you start to really examine how a lobster moves through While the grocery stores or fi sh markets might be selling lobsters at $9.00/pound, the supply chain, the reason quickly becomes clear.” that same lobster is often selling for upwards of $20 in restaurants. “The restaurant Hypothetically, if you start with a $4.00 boat price and the lobster moves through industry traditionally offers products on their menus at 300-400% markup over the the buyer, shipper, and distributor to reach the food service or retail sector, that cost of that product to them. Coca-Cola literally spends pennies to make the syrup lobster has changed hands at least four times and the price has probably grown to about $7. Lobstermen often remark that the price for lobster Grotton explained setting the price for a lobster served in Maine restaurants on a Maine restaurant’s menu bears little relation to also has to do with fl uctuating demand. “For the lobster industry, volume sales are important,” he noted. “Volume is also important to the restaurant. Maintaining that the price paid to the lobstermen who harvested the balance between increasing sales and reasonable food cost is a constant challenge. lobster. The savvy restaurateur understands that the cost for seafood specialties, including lobster, is higher than for other menu items and they must account for that higher cost to profi t from that item,” Grotton said. that goes into their beverages, but it costs a restaurant about 40 cents per 20 oz fountain soda, while the consumer is paying $1.60,” MLA Education Coordinator Continued on page 17 Annie Tselikis explained. Revenues are understandably higher for larger restaurants in a chain such as Weathervane Seafood than for smaller local businesses. “At our thirteen year-round and three seasonal locations, we serve over one million customers each year. As a seafood restaurant chain, lobster is a huge source of revenue for us. It accounts for roughly 20 to 25 percent of our sales annually,” said Josh Sharp, head of purchasing and distribution of food and beverage for Weathervane Seafood Inc.. William Tower Jr. has owned and operated Barnacle Billy’s in Ogunquit for 51 years. “Looking over our fi gures from last summer, I found that we used between 7,000 and 11,000 pounds of live lobsters each week during our busy season, and that doesn’t include the pre-picked lobster meat,” Tower said. He estimated that half of all meals served during the summer months include lobster. Lobstermen often remark that the price for lobster on a Maine restaurant’s menu bears little relation to the price paid to the lobstermen who harvested the lobster. “In the course of running the Trade Adjustment Assistance programs, I have heard many fi shermen complain about the difference that they see in their boat prices ver- sus the price they see advertised at Hannaford’s, in Red Lobster commercials, or in

Source: From Trap to Table -- A Long Term Value Strategy for the Canadian Lob- ster Industry. Prepared by Gardner Pinfold Consulting Economists Ltd., October 2010, for the Lobster is what’s for dinner for many of Maine’s summer visitors. Photo by Annie Tselikis. Lobster Council of Canada. 16 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION May 2012 Luke’s Lobster: Marketing success in the Big Apple

By Sarah Paquette ads,” Holden said. Instead, Holden and his team have taken advantage of free social media to get the compa- n 2009 Luke’s Lobster opened its doors to the public ny’s name out. You can fi nd Luke’s Lobster on almost Iin New York City’s East Village. “We started with every social media outlet available, including Face- ten folks on the team,” said owner and president, Luke book, Twitter, Four Square, Tumblr, Pinterest, Insta- Holden. Now, just three years later, Luke’s Lobster em- gram, Vimeo, and Yelp. These outlets keep customers ploys between 130 and 140 people and operates at six engaged in the world of Luke’s Lobster and all things locations in New York City and Washington, D.C., with Maine and are an easy way to attract new customers. plans to open three new locations this summer. What’s Holden has also introduced Luke’s Maine lobster roll the secret to this success? “It all starts with the quality to Japan when he traveled to Yokohama to participate of the product. Then you can heighten it with a story,” in a New York food fair this spring. Holden explained. While Luke’s Lobster has been growing rapidly with The story that accompanies Luke’s Lobster’s lobster great success, Holden himself has not forgotten his roll is one that Holden knows well. Holden grew up in roots here in Maine. Luke’s Lobster was the fi rst busi- Cape Elizabeth and lobstered from a hand built skiff Luke’s Lobster has taken off in New York City and other metropoli- ness to invest in MLA’s Claws for a Cause initiative, through high school with the blue and yellow buoys tan areas. Luke Holden (right) purchases his lobster from his father, where participating businesses donate a portion of Jeff Holden (left), president of Portland Shellfi sh Company. now found at Luke’s Lobster. Holden left Maine to their proceeds from a specifi c event or over the course Photo courtesy of Luke Holden. attend Georgetown University to study fi nance and of a year to the organization. For the past three years, not enough.” Holden said they take time to make sure management, but never lost his passion for the Maine Luke’s contributions have helped to fund MLA general everyone on the Luke’s Lobster team knows about the brand. While working for a bank in New York City operating costs, the launch of MLA’s interactive blog management and regulations in place for the Maine after graduating form Georgetown, Holden became for news and commentary website, Maine Landings lobster fi shery. “When our team knows and cares about discouraged with the high prices and low quality of (www.mainelandings.org); and last year’s contribution it, so do our customers. They can value that and learn lobster rolls around the city. Before long, Holden part- is being directed to the development of an innovative from it,” he said. nered with his dad, Jeff Holden, who owns Portland leadership training program for the industry. To encourage customers to learn about how lob- Shellfi sh, a seafood processing plant in Portland and So what’s next for this young, growing company? sters are caught, each Luke’s location has lobster gear later, business partner Ben Conniff, to open their fi rst “We are opening up in the Plaza Hotel in late May and on display. “The colors [in the shops] are the same yel- lobster roll shop in the East Village. in Maryland in early June. We’re also working on open- low and blue as my old buoys when I used to fi sh,” ing a place in a city that’s new for us, hopefully this said Holden. “Some of my old traps and buoys are on summer,” said Holden. “We want to create relation- “When you think about Maine you display as well as other gear and tools. We really like ships, and make them more prominent, with the lob- think of beautiful summer days, to have the sustainability tools for people to see, like stermen that provide us with our lobsters.” the notcher, gauge, and vents.” Holden said the goal is Holden said that traceability is very important to lobsters, wilderness. We do our best to give customers a “downeast feel in the downtown consumers, coupled with a trend in healthy eating and to align ourselves with that image.” hustle. We want to share a piece of Maine with them.” social responsibility that he hopes to promote. Luke’s People who either have vacationed in or lived in Maine Web site provides information about the harbors that know that it is a special place. “When you think about Holden said the lobster roll is “the star of the supply the lobsters and information about Maine’s reg- Maine you think of beautiful summer days, lobsters, show” and accounts for 50%-65% of their sales. All ulations. “We care most about promoting the Maine wilderness. We do our best to align ourselves with that of the lobster meat used in the rolls comes from Maine brand,” Holden said. And if you read comments on image,” Holden said. lobstermen and is processed at Portland Shellfi sh. “We any of Luke’s Lobster’s social media sites from custom- At Luke’s Lobster, all the products for sale are only source from the highest quality. I’ve been to other ers, it certainly sounds like people are enjoying a piece from Maine. “Our chowders and bisques are from processing plants and found that Portland Shellfi sh de- of Maine in the city. Hurricane’s Soups, the buns we use for the rolls are livers supreme quality,” Holden said. from Country Kitchen, we have microbrews from Al- Luke’s also sells Maine crab and shrimp rolls, but lagash, Peak Organic, Geary’s, Atlantic Brewing Com- fi nds that the sustainability of the Maine lobster fi shery pany, Maine Beer Company and we stock Maine Root is easier to align to the Maine name. “Customers want soda,”Holden explained. Each location also has murals to know what’s so special about Maine lobster over depicting life in Maine created by a Maine artist. lobster from other places,” Holden said. “We tell them “We’ve grown really fast, but it’s been fun,” said about the work Maine lobstermen and the Department Holden. What makes their quick growth even more of Marine Resources do to maintain a sustainable fi sh- astounding is the company’s advertising strategy. “We ery. It’s stricter in Maine than in other states, but they don’t really advertise. We’ve spent no money on offi cial have a good balance between too much regulation and

Seacoast Lobster Band Company Yes, that’s right,

PO Box 1472 we’ve gone social! Manchester, MA 01944 And we want you Plain and printed lobster bands to be our friend. Telephone 1-800-830-1856 Cell 978-317-5154

Join our lively community at www.facebook.com/ mainelobstermen

Thank you All Maine, Trap to Table ? Are yours? ?

Over 4 million pounds bought in 2011. Only from Maine boats. May 2012 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 17

Restaurants continued from page 15

Sharp agreed. “Customers that love lobster might not stop eating it altogether [if to compost. the price goes up], but they will cut down on the frequency of their visits. That is Despite the dip in the economy, restaurant owners anticipate another strong something we want to avoid,” he said. Weathervane offers specials such as “Wicked summer of lobster sales. No matter how Maine lobster is prepared, people want Cheap Twins” on Thursday nights and coupons for lobster rolls and other all-you- ‘fresh from the sea’ Maine lobster when they are visting the state. can-eat seafood specials to keep customers coming back. Whether they get it in a restaurant or buy it from a local fi sh market, seasonal visi- tors continue to seek out the tasty lobster. “Tourists feel like they’re already getting a It pays to advertise. deal buying in Maine at a fi sh market rather than from their grocery store at home, and they’re defi nitely willing to pay for fresh Maine lobster in Maine,” Kingston said. And the MLA newsletter has Which brings to mind another question: Since millions of pounds of lobster are consumed at Maine restaurants each summer, a huge volume of lobster shells are the rates you want. left behind. What is done with all the discarded exoskeletons? “Sometimes we sell the bodies to be used towards making bisques or soups. Other times they might We go where the lobstermen are. go towards compost and fertilizer. It all depends on the need for it,” Sharp said. Daggett said 50 percent of his leftover shells are picked up by gardeners who like And you can come too!

Call April Gilmore,967-4555 or email [email protected] Th e Bait Report for advertising rates and information. 2012 Herring Catch and Quota hy-liner Area Quota % of quota 2012 quota 2011 quota (as of 4/18) rope company Area 1A 0 0 4,705 26,251

Area 1B 4,232 155 2,723 4,362 Area 2 21,085 95% 22,146 22,146 SINK FLOAT Area 3 1,311 3% 38,146 38,146 ROPE ROPE

Total 26,648 39% 67,720 90,700 Highest quality ropes made in Maine Data from the NMFS Weekly Atlantic Herring report. SuperSink • SteelLiner • EasyPull • Float Ropes IVR data are compared to federal and state dealer data each week and dealer reports are used to supplement the IVR when necessary. These supplements include data from non-federally permitted hy-liner rope company inshore fi sheries when provided by state agencies or from other sources. st. george, maine

MLA Members’ Discount Directory MLA Members! Present your MLA membership card at the following business and receive generous discounts! All Points Marine Maine Maritime Museum Naragansett, RI -- discounts Bath, ME -- free admission available for MLA members Newcastle Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep Accutech Marine Propeller Newcastle, ME -- 15% off all Dover, NH -- 20% off propeller parts and service, not to be repair; discounts for new propellers, shafting and hardware combined with other offers Applied Refrigeration Services Nicholas Walsh, PA Windham, ME -- $250 off new Portland, ME -- 25% discount installations on legal services Coastal Hydraulics Northeast Marine Survey Seabrook, NH -- 10% discount Harpswell, ME -- 10% off on all in-stock items commercial rate Cod End North Atlantic Power Tenants Harbor, ME -- 10% off Exeter, NH -- 10% off all service Cookhouse and Market repairs Commercial Fisheries News Penobscot Marine Museum Discount on annual subscription Searsport, ME -- Free admission Friendship Trap Company Smithwick & Mariners Insurance Friendship, ME -- Discounts of Falmouth, ME -- Discounted 5% to 10% depending on product vessel insurance; additional 5% Hamilton Marine with proof of completion of Fish- Portland / Rockland / Searsport ing Vessel Drill Conductor course Discounts for MLA members within past 5 years. Mount Desert Oceanarium Wesmac Custom Boats Southwest Harbor, ME -- Free Surry, ME -- 2% discount on admission ¿EHUJODVVFRPSRQHQWV 18 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION May 2012 Meeting Roundup

MLA Directors Meeting and number of hours worked on and off the water. can be done under current law to prohibit import of At the MLA board meeting on April 3, Steve Wein- The data will be used to create economic simulators to oversize lobster. Col. Fessenden said that processors er, head of the CHOIR Coalition (Coalition for the illustrate how various regulatory scenarios could affect are complying with a new reporting requirement which Atlantic Herring Fishery’s Orderly, Informed and Re- the profi tability of lobstermen. will allow DMR to assess the amount of oversize lob- sponsible Long-term Development), presented a letter Bob Baines provided an update on the Lobster Ad- sters processed in the state. from his group to the New England Fisheries Man- visory Council’s (LAC) exploration of how the lobster Lynda Doughty, Gulf of Maine Lobster Founda- agement Council on changes to the Atlantic Herring industry could set up a new lobster marketing entity. tion, provided a brief update on ghost gear recovery management plan, urging them to implement 100% The Directors discussed their trip to the International activities. There are upcoming projects in Tenants Har- observer coverage with no dumping. CHOIR Coalition Boston Seafood Show. Everyone was pleased with the bor, Harpswell and Portland. members Tim Tower, Chris Weiner, and John Stanley opportunity to learn more about the international sea- Marine Patrol sought feedback from the LAC on also participated in the discussion, urging the MLA to food market, the variety of products on the market and enforcement issues related to V-notching. The DMR is endorse their position. The MLA Directors supported to witness this aspect of seafood marketing fi rst hand. exploring creation of an enforcement policy to provide the concept of 100% coverage and NMFS funding for Directors discussed inviting Commissioner Pat Keliher offi cers with clear guidelines in citing lobstermen for it. MLA will submit comments to this effect to NMFS. to an upcoming meeting to discuss the status of the V-notching. LAC members were sympathetic to the V- DMR reorganization. notch enforcement issues and acknowledged that stan- dards can vary depending upon an offi cer’s judgment. Lobster Advisory Council The LAC did not support any change to the zero toler- At the April 5 meeting, Commissioner Pat Keliher ance V-notch defi nition, but supported DMR improv- raised the issue of term limits for Lobster Advisory ing its enforcement efforts. Council (LAC) members. He explained that the ques- Deirdre Gilbert, DMR, provided an update on the tion is meant to provide a mechanism to allow the status of bills in the Legislature. DMR is moving for- leadership to turn over. LAC members and industry ward with soliciting a request for proposals (RFP) to members in the audience concurred that the current conduct a review of the lobster industry’s limited entry leadership is ready and willing to retire yet there are few lobstermen willing to take on the commitment. MLA vice-president Jim Dow (left), executive director Patrice Mc- Jon Carter, Zone B representative to the LAC, said Carron and board president David Cousen (right) at the monthly that they have a fundamental leadership problem that board meeting in Belfast. Photo by Annie Tselikis. occurs at the Zone Council level. Two former LAC Alexa Dayton of the Gulf of Maine Research Insti- chairs, Steve Train and David Cousens, stressed the im- tute (GMRI) gave a presentation on the lobster indus- portance of maintaining institutional knowledge, but try profi t study jointly conducted by MLA and GMRI. noted that there has been signifi cant change in LAC The study’s data comes from 17 in-depth interviews membership since either of them served on the Coun- and 1,000 phone surveys with lobstermen in Maine, cil. The LAC members did not support implementing Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The purpose of term limits. the research is to collect baseline data on the income LAC members voted to nominate to the Maine and expenses typical of Area 1 lobstermen, taking into Lobster Promotion Council Board Cathy Billings to account basic inputs such as the amount of bait, fuel serve as public member for the eastern district, Emily John Sauve at a recent LAC meeting. Photo by Annie Tselikis. Lane as the dealer mem- ber for the western district system. The DMR hopes to have a fi nal report in hand and Vaughn Stinson as by fall to discuss with the industry. DMR must report the public member for the to the Legislature in January, 2013. midcoast district. Com- John Sauve of the Food and Wellness Group, who missioner Keliher stated is under contract by the LAC’s Market Subcommittee, that he will accept these presented an update on his work “Project Maine Lob- nominations. John Jordan, ster: Build Global Demand.” Since November Suave who currently serves as has logged more than 15 hours conducting interviews, harvester member for the research, and attending tradeshows and conferences western district, resigned within the lobster industry to collect information. from the MLPC board and The project’s goal is to develop a market action plan the LAC is seeking nomi- to signifi cantly increase demand for lobster harvested nations to fi ll that seat. in Maine and increase the boat price for lobster. The John Drouin of Zone plan’s success will require that the industry fully under- A initiated discussion re- stand understand and approve of the proposed mar- garding the status of over- keting plan. size lobsters. He suggested The new strategy will require actions that market that now that most U.S. not only lobsters, but also lobstering and lobster- Fish processing plant on 3 acres lobster fi shing areas have men. The lobster industry can do this by focusing an oversize measure in on one thing – build demand by adding perceived in Kennebunkport. value to the product – which is something that Convenient to Route 9 and Cape Porpoise. place, oversize Canadian lobsters should not be al- the industry has not done before on a broad scale. MLS # 1039850 lowed into Maine. Col. Sauve explained that the Maine lobster industry needs $24,900. Fessenden, head of Marine to be playing the demand game on a global scale, yet Patrol, explained that over- recognize that the United States currently consumes Offered by OceanView Properties sized lobsters have been 80% of all lobster products. There is still signifi cant opportunity to access untapped markets in the United 165 Main Street legally imported for years. Import of “live” under- States just as there is a great opportunity to expand in Kennebunkport, ME sized lobsters was banned Europe and Asia. Sauve provided an example from his 207-967-5444 through a change to the 20 years of experience marketing wild blueberries. The www.oceanviewproperties.net Magnuson Act, known as blueberry industry didn’t change the blueberry, they the Mitchell Bill. There is changed the way that they were thinking and talking no equivalent law in place about the blueberry. The same thing needs to happen regarding oversized lob- in the lobster industry. Sauve will make a presentation ster. DMR has consulted at the next LAC meeting in May then lead an outreach with federal agents tasked effort at meetings with lobstermen in Machias, Ells- with enforcing the provi- worth, Rockland, and Portland in June. sions of the Lacey Act and have learned that nothing Continued on page 19 May 2012 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 19

Continued from page 18

Zone Council meetings areas on Jeffrey’s and Jordan Basin. They did not support any closure on Jeffrey’s. Lobster Zone Counil B met on April 23. Members reviewed various issues dis- In Jordan Basin they suggested closure at the 25-600 line (border of Areas 1 and 3). cussed by the Lobster Advisory Council (LAC). The stricter penalties for V-notch violations were of concern to members. They passed a motion urging the DMR to Maine Lobster Promotion Council Board of Directors create a guide for Marine Patrol offi cers on V-notching in order to ensure consis- The MLPC Board convened via conference call on April 9 to discuss continu- tency among offi cers. Members also discussed the LAC subcommittee on market- ing key events over the next year. The MLPC Board voted for council to reserve a ing’s work which will be presented to the industry early this summer, focusing on “pavilion” sized space again for the 2013 Boston Seafood Show and to conduct the how to pay for increased marketing, and nominees to the Maine Lobster Promotion Lobster Chef of the Year contest as part of Portland’s Harvest on the Harbor dur- Council board. ing the Fall of 2012. DMR staff clarifi ed what’s happening in Area 1 regarding federal lobster per- mits. The control date will be April 30, 2009, rather than the ASFMC’s date of Janu- Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team, Northeast Sub- ary 1, 2009, in order to be in synch with the federal fi shing year. The federal rule group on Area 1 will be published by the end of June. Concerning the island limited entry The TRT met via conference call to discuss the results of the analysis of the program, the Cranberry Islands have gone through all the steps. DMR is scheduling proposals submitted to NMFS to reduce the risk of vertical lines (See chart at right public hearings for Cliff and Chebeague Islands. for comparison). NMFS has stated that it plans to have a draft of the vertical line Members also compared the respective DMR and NMFS proposals for vertical rule with corresponding analysis ready by late spring/early summer 2013 with public line reductions. Then they talked about changes to the Monhegan island fi shery. hearings. It may reconvene the TRT in the summer of 2013. Monhegan lobstermen may now have 400 traps and those in the apprentice program must live on the island. Atlantic Herring Section Days Out Meeting Zone D met on April 23. The members discussed many of the same topics as On April 27, Atlantic Herring Section members from Maine, New Hampshire Zone B. Proper guidance to the Marine Patrol offi cers on V-notching was talked and Massachusetts discussed “days out” measures for the 2012 fi shing season in about at length. Members elected Mike Dawson as council chair, Jim Wotton as Area 1A. The revised 2012 Area 1A sub-ACL of 24,668 metric tons will be allocated vice-chair and Kevin Glover as secretary. A suggestion that the council send out to seasonally with 73% available from June 1 to September 30 and 27% available from referendum changes to night hauling restrictions did not have any support. Another October 1 to December 31. The revised ACL incorporates a 1,878 metric ton reduc- suggestion, to go from three to fi ve trap trawls in one specifi c area of the zone, also tion from the initial quota as a payback for overages that occurred in 2011. Fisher- failed. Members discussed changing the age at which a student can get a license but men are prohibited from landing more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring from tabled any vote until after DMR’s limited entry analysis is fi nished. Area 1A until June 1, 2012. Zone F met on April 24. Members talked about the same topics as Zone B and The Atlantic Herring Section voted to open the herring fi shery with two land- D. There was a long discussion about establishing V-notch guidelines in order to ing days from June 3 through June 30. Beginning July 1, the fi shery will increase to have enforcement consistency. John Lewis, DMR, explained how aquaculture leases four landing days through July 14. Beginning July 15, there will be no landing days are reviewed and approved by DMR; members said they want to know early in the restrictions. The Herring Section plans to meet again on July 2 and July 25 to moni- process what areas are being considered. Members also discussed proposed closure tor landings and make adjustments to the landing days, if necessary. Comparison of Maine DMR proposal and NMFS proposal regarding vertical line (VL) reductions Maine Proposal NMFS Proposal

Location No. of traps Location No. of traps Non-exempt state water Pairs Non-exempt state 2 Zone A, E, G 3-6 miles Triples 3 Zones B-D 6-12 miles 5’s Zones A-C 4 Zone F 10’s (2 endlines) Zones D-G 3 to 12 miles 5 Zones A-E 12+ miles 15’s (2 endlines) 20 in Zones F and G from 10 Zones F-G Nov. to Feb. 12+ miles 10 Zones A-E 20 Zones F-G Reduction in VL -35.9% In the Northeast region with NMFS Reduction in VL -36.1% In the Northeast region with NMFS plan in place outside of Maine plan in place outside of Maine Co-occurrence Change -34.5% Co-occurrence Change -34.6% Membership has ǀĞƌƐŽŶŽƌĚĂŐĞtŽƌŬƐ/ŶĐ its benefits! ǀĞƌƐŽŶŽƌĚĂŐĞtŽƌŬƐ/ŶĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞĚƐƉĞĐŝĂůŝnjĞƐŝŶƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚǁŚŽůĞƐĂůĞŵĂƌŬĞƚƐǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŚŝŐŚĞƐƚƋƵĂůŝƚLJƚǁŝƐƚĞĚĂŶĚďƌĂŝĚĞĚ Maine Lobstermen’s ƚǁŝŶĞƐĂŶĚƌŽƉĞƐ͘ůůƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐĂƌĞŵĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌĞĚĂƚŽƵƌƉůĂŶƚůŽĐĂƚĞĚ Association members ŝŶǀĞƌƐŽŶ͕tĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶĂŶĚŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůƚLJĐŽƌĚĂŐĞƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐĨŽƌ • receive the monthly MLA ƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂů͕ŵĂƌŝŶĞ͕ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂůĂŶĚĐŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂůƵƐĞƐ͘ newsletter • get discounts on marine equipment and services • receive a weekly e-mail 0DQXIDFWXUHURI4XDOLW\ &RUGDJH3URGXFWV news blast on all things lobster.

Become a member today ‡1\ORQ6HLQH7ZLQHV ‡5RSHV‡(YHUVRQ3UR and be a part of the oldest lobstering organization in the state.

3RO\HVWHU&RUGDJH‡%UDLGHG&RUGDJH‡&DWOLQH&RUGDJH The MLA mission is to advocate for a sustainable lobster resource and the fi sher- men and communities that depend on it. WƌŽĚƵĐƚƐĂƌĞĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƌĂƵƚŚŽƌŝnjĞĚĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƚŽƌĂƚ͗ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂůDĂƌŝŶĞDĂƌŬĞƟŶŐ͕ϮϴůĂŶĐŚĂƌĚWůĂĐĞ͕tĂŬĞĮĞůĚ͕Z/ϬϮϴϳϵ 20 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION May 2012 So you want to know: Why are some lobsters diff erent colors?

By Sarah Paquette “When white lobsters are changed back to a diet containing astaxanthin, their color changes depending on how fast they deposit pigment in their shell,” said f you have ever seen a colored lobster, you likely remember it. Any color or pat- Tlusty. “If the lobster turns blue, the astaxanthin is bound to proteins in the shell. If Itern other than the typical muddy green or mottled orange and brown is rare, yet astaxanthin stays in the skin, the lobster turns red.” He added that when astaxanthin many combinations of primary colors are possible. Probably one of the most re- moves to the outer layer of the shell, the lobster becomes yellow or gold. markable patterns is the half-and-half lobster shell – each side of the lobster’s shell “The color of wild lobsters is not uniform. There are different amounts of pig- is a different color, separated by a straight line. ment in the shell,” added Tlusty. “But this is where our knowledge drops off quickly. The typical color of lobsters is mottled, but we are not sure why that happens.” Scientists are not really sure how astaxanthin, which is a large molecule, gets from a lobster’s skin into its shell. “It’s like if you wore a jacket, that would be your shell,” he said. Under that jacket are layers that the pigment has to move through. “But it’s too big to diffuse through the membrane like other molecules do. There is a theory that proteins bind to astaxanthin to help move it through the membrane. But that would just make the molecule bigger, so it doesn’t really make sense,” Tlusty said. Steneck compared the natural color of lobsters to paintings such as Jackson Pol- lock’s abstract art. “If you have a white canvas and blue, red, yellow, and green paint in jars, and you take your paint brush and spatter the canvas with all the colors, you end up with a muddy brown color. That’s what happens to a lobster shell,” he ex- plained. No matter what layer of color you see in a live lobster, you always end up with a red lobster when it is cooked. “All the chromataphores (pigment containing cells) are heat fragile and break down when they are cooked, except the carotinoide which is pretty heat stable” explained Steneck. “When this happens, you are left with the pri- mary color in the lobster shell, an orangey-red.” The carotinoide found in lobsters is also responsible for the orange color of carrots and is an antioxidant. “We know that the carotinoide is an antioxidant and lobsters with diets lacking astaxanthin also lack the antioxidant,” said Tlusty. “But are white lobsters more Three different lobsters, three different colors (the middle lobster is white). New England Aquarium photo. likely to be stressed?” He said he would guess so, but as of now, there are no stress

Lobsters achieve their unique colorings through genetics. “Lobsters have bilat- eral symmetry, meaning each side is a mirror image of the other,” explained Bob Steneck, professor at University of Maine’s School of Marine Sciences. “You have to have a sense of development to understand how these colors emerge.” Male lobsters deposit sperm packets in a female lobster which has recently molt- ed. The female can then store these packets for months before fertilizing them. Once the eggs are fertilized they begin to develop into zygotes. “Zygotes divide in

No matter what layer of color you see in a live lobster, you always end up with a red lobster when it is cooked. the middle. It is at this time that mutations in color genes can occur in the side that This yellow lobster certainly stands out from typical lobsters. Photo by Loren Faulkingham. just split,” Steneck said. The process is complex. “You start with a single-cell egg and end up with multi-cell larvae,” he said. tests for lobsters. However, a white lobster in the wild stands out against the ocean Lobsters with abnormal color, called color morphs, found in the wild are usu- fl oor, making it easier for predators to spot, which would certainly seem to lead to ally the result of genetic mutations. However, lab-raised color morphs are often the a stressful situation. The typical, muddy color of a lobster is a camoufl age defense result of an altered diet. Michael Tlusty, director of research at the New England mechanism. But Steneck believes it’s not as important as it used to be. “Most of the Aquarium, said that in the lobster research program at the aquarium, they alter the big fi sh predators have been removed, so there is no need to blend in like there was color of young lobsters in the lab by eliminating astaxanthin, the pigment found in many years ago. The ocean is a different place than it was years ago,” he said. lobsters. Astaxanthin is a Color morphs remain rare however. “Blue lobsters occur about one in one mil- carotinoide which has an lion,” Steneck said. “The chance of two blue lobsters mating in the wild is one orange-red color in its chance in a million times a million.” But, he said, if you put the word out that you natural state. When lob- want blue lobsters, lobstermen will fi nd them. “We did a lobster survey along the sters are fed a diet with- coast and handled over ten thousand lobsters. We didn’t see any color variants and it out astaxanthin, they be- took ages to do. A modern lobster boat will get a colored lobster in just a few days come colorless. because they handle so many lobsters.” now in our new shop at 137 Lobsters inhabit a Pleasant Hill Rd, Scarborough mysterious world. And so - Kits, Cages, Complete Traps do Maine lobstermen. - Rolls of Wire in Stock - Distributor of Fitec Twine What do YOU want to -100’s of trap kits in stock know? -Traps built the way YOU want - Aquamesh & Cavatorta Wire Call us with a science or management Trap specials available on Web site question at 967-4555, email www.searosetrap.com [email protected], or post it to www.facebook.com/mainelobstermen. May 2012 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 21 In the News

a larger bait freezer. Combined eff ort results in freed humpback

Lobstermen and whale entanglement experts worked together last month to free a humpback whale which had become ensnared in lobster gear south of Mount Desert Island. When the whale was fi rst seen in the gear, a lobsterman called the DMR Marine Patrol. After searching and fi nding the the whale, they fi xed a GPS buoy on it in order to locate it again. The whale had diffi culty swimming because of the weight of the lobster traps attached to the entangling ropes. The Marine Patrol called in experts from the Na- tional Marine Fisheries Service and the Center for Coastal Studies on Cape Cod. They tied on larger buoys to keep the whale closer to the surface and attached a small boat onto those, linking the whale and the disentanglers together. Slowly, as the whale surfaced, the team managed to cut the gear from the whale. Eventually free, the humpback quickly disappeared into the Gulf of Maine. MLA leadership was invited to appear on WCSH 6’s news magazine 207 to discuss all of the hard work done by industry to protect whales. Photo courtesy of Ocean Renewable Power Co. Tidal energy contract signed with Maine utilities Order your MLA gear today!

In April the Maine Public Utilities Commission set terms for a contract between Ocean Renewable Power Co. and the three Maine electricity companies that would be in place for 20 years. The commission also directed the three utilities to negotiate with the tidal energy company to put electricity onto the grid this summer, the fi rst long-term power purchase agreements for tidal energy in the United States. Item #1 The commission established set the rate to be paid for the electricity produced by Item #2 Item #4 Item #3 Ocean Renewable Power Company’s tidal turbines at 21.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, a subsidized rate that’s far higher than the standard offer of about 11 to 12 cents paid by most Maine residents. According to Richard Davies, Maine’s public advocate, said that the cost of energy produced by fossil fuels likely will grow much faster than the cost of tidal energy over the course of the 20-year contract. Tidal energy could become competitive within fi ve years, he said. The 21.5-cent rate will grow two percent a year over the span of the contract. Item #5 Item #6 Item #7 Power production will begin modestly, with the fi rst unit producing enough electric- Item #8 ity for 20 to 25 homes. Ocean Power Renewable Energy plans to add other tidal Item# ADULT MERCHANDISE 1 MLA Lobster hat $15 Khaki hat turbines at sites off both Lubec and Eastport to bring production to 4 megawatts, 2 MLA Lobster T-shirt $15 Blue, red, grey – M, L, XL, 2XL enough to power up more than 1,000 homes by 2016. 3 MLA Buoy logo zip sweatshirt $35 Blue with red logo – women’s S, M, L, XL 4 MLA logo hooded sweatshirt $35 Gray – M, L, XL. 2XL 5 1/4 Zip Fleece with Maine and lobster logo $30 Navy w/ red logo – L, XL, 2XL CHILD MERCHANDISE 6 Crew flag sweatshirt $10 Gray – Youth 7T 7 Lobster life cycle T-shirt $10 Oatmeal – Youth S, L 8 Buoy T-shirt $10 White – Youth XS, S, M Turner gains new bait facility MLA Merchandise Order Form Item # color size price Name:______Address:______Family-owned New England Fish Company purchased the former Cooper Broth- ______Shipping of 1 to 3 items $7.50 OR ers Apple Processing Plant in Turner in April. The 39,000-square-foot facility will Phone:______Shipping for 3+ items $10.00 be used to store bait, said co-owners Suzannah and Ryan Raber, who are siblings. Pay by Check ______Visa ______MasterCard ______Total Due New England Fish Company has facilities in Portland and Port Clyde. It runs its own herring trawler, the Providian, and imports frozen bait from the West Coast. Visa or Master Card Number: ______- ______- ______- ______Expiration Date: ______

Ryan Raber said that it’s quicker to get bait to customers from Turner than it is from Card Validation Number (last 3-digit number on signature strip on back of card): ______Portland during the summer months when Route 1 along the coast is so congested Signature: ______with traffi c. The Rabers plan to repair the building by fi xing the roof and installing March 2012

Keep your traps fishing even when you can’t get to ‘em! All Natural Salted Hairless Cowhide LONG-LASTING and AFFORDABLE LOBSTER BAIT Available in 30 gal. drums or 5 gal. pailss www.bessybait.com Phone: 603.300.2846 or 603.300.2849 Email: [email protected] Bessy Bait is sold at our warehouse located at 155 rear Batchedler Rd., Seabrook NH 03874 ApprovedApproved Please call for HOURS and PRICING! Bessy Bait is also sold at all Brooks Trap Mill locations. Maine Labeling 22 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION May 2012 In the News

Right whales safer with new app MLA staff member chosen as one of “Forty under 40”

A new application to warn mariners about the presence of right whales was unveiled in April. The Whale Alert application, available for free download, uses MLA Education Coordinator Annie Tselikis was recently nominated for the global positioning system and other technology to send the latest data about right Maine Today Media Forty under 40 award. Given annually, recipients are nomi- whale detections, overlaid on NOAA digital charts, to the user’s device. The app nated by their colleagues and peers and selected by a group of judges based on was developed for Apple’s iPads and iPhones by EarthNC, a company that creates their achievements within their communities. In her current capacity as Education mapping systems for the leisure boating community, and Gaia GPS, which designs Coordinator with the MLA, Annie administers the Trade Adjustment Assistance backcountry topographic maps. (TAA) Program which delivers business, marketing and fi nancial planning technical Development of the application was a collaborative effort among NOAA, the training to the 2,600 participants enrolled in Maine. She designed the curriculum National Park Service, and the Coast Guard. The goal is to limit the number of col- and presentation for the Lobster Market Overview workshop as part of the TAA lisions between whales and large vessels such as cruise ships and container ships. By Program. This winter she has co-chaired the Lobster Advisory Council Marketing using the application, ship personnel will know when right whales have been identi- Sub-Committee with MLA Director and LAC Chair Bob Baines. fi ed in a specifi c area, and thus alter course or slow down to avoid them. Collisions Before joining the MLA, Annie was a deckhand for Casco Bay Lines, served as an with vessels killed more than one third of the right whales which were reported dead Island Institute Fellow, and worked as the between 1970 and 2007. Right whales, which have a normal lifespan of 50 to 70 community coordinator for the Penobscot years, are vulnerable to getting struck by ships because they feed close to the surface East Resource Center in Stonington. After and are notoriously slow swimmers. returning to Portland in 2010, she worked on Eliot Cutler’s gubernatorial campaign and for the Gulf of Maine Research In- stitute. Annie serves on the Maine Fish- Gilbert takes new post at DMR ermen’s Forum board of directors and is the public member on the Maine Scallop Assistant to the Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Deirdre Gil- Advisory Council. She was selected to tour bert was appointed the Director of Marine Policy at the agency the Middle East in 2010 on a fellowship in April. The new position was created to oversee the develop- for conservation professionals offered by ment of state fi sheries management plans, DMR’s regulatory the Quebec-Labrador Foundation. Tseli- agenda as well as to serve as liaison between the Department kis, 29, will be recognized along with other and the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources. members of the Forty under 40 2012 class Gilbert, who has worked for DMR for ten years, took her at the Sea Dogs game on Friday, May 25. master’s degree in marine policy at the University of Maine. She received an undergraduate degree in biology and environ- Annie Tselikis and a big striped bass. mental studies from Bowdoin College in 1995. At the Univer- Photo by Ed Gauvin. sity of Maine, Gilbert conducted research for a federal project on the collapse of the New England groundfi sh industry, and assisted in the shoreline ecology program developed at Bow- doin College to mitigate the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil Classifieds spill. Deirdre Gilbert will For her master’s thesis at UMaine, Gilbert developed a be the new Director of Liquidating southern New England lobster business: 660 traps for sale. Built model to assess the impact of marine sanctuaries and other Marine Policy at the by Brooks Trap Mill or Northeast Trap, good to “like new” condition. Fifty closed fi shing areas on groundfi sh populations and the fi sher- Department of Marine 7/16 Everson sinking groundlines; 100+ 7x15 buoys and fl ags; one Spectra ies they support. She then was awarded a Dean John A. Knauss Resources. MLA photo. twine skiff net with 45’ chain sweep, 6” twine and 7” knotless nylon bag; Marine Policy Fellowship to work for a year in Representative one Stainless Steel piccolo-style gillnet lifter. Call Aaron at 401-218-5764 Tom Allen’s D.C. offi ce in 2001. (cell) during the day and 401-284-3384 in the evening for prices.

HEY! News & Comment for and by the Fishermen of Maine

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! The Fishermen’s Voice Get your name in From the Canadian Maritimes, We Like To Hear From You! front of Maine’s All along the Maine Coast, lobstermen with an $ and in ports south to Cape Cod - To subscribe send check or money order for 18.* along ad in the MLA with the information below to: Fishermen’s Voice newsletter. P.O. Box 253 , Gouldsboro, ME 04607 IT’S WHAT *Canadian subscriptions are $23 U.S. dollars FISHERMEN READ! Name ______Address______Good rates. City ______207-963-7195 Good distribution. State, Zip______A good idea. MLA 05/10 Send letters, news, stories to: Join us in Supporting the Tradition of Making One’s Living P.O. Box 253 Gouldsboro, ME 04607 Call April Gilmore,967-4555 from the Sea by Advertising in the Fishermen’s Voice. We have Email: [email protected] or email [email protected] one of the best circulations among the industry’s newspapers, 8,000 copies for advertising rates and information. distributed from Kittery to Eastport and 2,000 copies to the major fishing Website: ports in Massachusetts, and our advertising rates are very reasonable. www.fishermensvoice.com May 2012 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION 23

Events Calendar

May 12 June 16 July 14 Penobscot Marine Museum volunteer cleanup day, Boothbay Harbor Lobster Boat races Searsport Lobster Boat Races 8:30 a.m., Searsport. 548-2529. FMI: 633-3915 FMI: 548-6362

4th annual chowderfest on the Pier, noon, Old Or- June 17 July 15 chard Beach. FMI: 934-3595. Rockland Lobster Boat races Stonington Lobster Boat Races FMI: 354-8763 FMI: 348-2375 May 15 ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Technical Committee June 19-21 July 28 and Stock Assessment Subcommittee Stock Assess- NEFMC meeting, Portland, ME. Friendship Lobster Boat Races ment Update, 10 a.m., Morrisville, NC.FMI: 919- 832-7807 840-8088. June 24 Bass Harbor lobster boat races July 29 May 16 FMI: 244-9623 Harpswell Lobster Boat Races Lobster Advisory Council, 4 p.m., Hallowell. FMI: 725-2567 June 30 May 18 Moosebec Reach Lobster Boat races, Jonesport August 11 Maine Lobster Promotion Council Board of Direc- FMI: 598-6681 Winter Harbor Lobster Boat Races tors (tentative). FMI: 207-541-9310. 963-7139

May 18-20 August 12 Wings, Waves and Woods, 4th annual birding festival, Merritt Brackett Lobster Boat Races, Pemaquid Stonington. FMI: 348-2455. FMI: 677-2432

August 19 Upcoming MS Harborfest Lobster Boat Races, Portland FMI: 223-8846 June 5 MLA Directors meeting, 5 p.m., Darby’s Restaurant, September 9 Belfast. Pirate Festival Lobster Boat Races, Eastport

June 6 October 27 NEFMC Herring Committee, 9:30am, Radisson Maine Lobster Boat Racing Awards ceremony and Hotel, Plymouth, MA Halloween party, Rockland.

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Call John for more information 1-800-747-7550 • Or visit us on the internet: http://www.midcoast.com/~marinhyd/ MARINE HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING 17 Gordon Drive • Rockland, Maine • Fax: 207-594-9721 Email: [email protected] 24 MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION May 2012 Senator Collins pushes to protect lobsterman statue in D.C.

By Wanda Curtis by Victor A. Kahill who was commissioned by the state attire because they would have preferred he wore a First published in the April issue of Working Waterfront of Maine to sculpt a monument epitomizing the spirit sou’wester. It states that they also would have preferred and reprinted with permission. of Maine’s people and their contribution to the econo- that the man in the sculpture be standing as he pegged my for the centerpiece of the Maine exhibit at the 1939 his lobster rather than kneeling. Their other complaint Senator Susan Collins and other U.S. senators have World’s Fair. The artist chose Harpswell lobsterman H. was that Johnson’s dog wasn’t incorporated into the been working with Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton Elroy Johnson who frequently visited the State House sculpture as representative of all dogs who go lobster- (D.C.’s non-voting delegate to the U.S. House) regard- to participate in discussions regarding fi shing policies. ing with their masters. ing legislation to ensure that the Maine Lobsterman When the state failed to raise enough money for the The Record mentions that perhaps the State regret- statue on the D.C. waterfront will remain on display completion of the statue, the artist painted the original ted the omission of the dog from the sculpture, as well, after a major redevelopment is completed there in the plaster mold bronze rather than casting it in bronze and noting that at the unveiling of the statue, Johnson’s dog near future. it was this sculpture that was displayed at the World’s Bruin (who was said to be an expert at distinguishing The statue is a replica of a sculpture created for the Fair. It was later placed on display in Portland where it “shorts” from “counters”) was issued a bona fi de lob- 1939 World’s Fair in New York. It was moved to Wash- deteriorated before being stored in a warehouse until ster license by the Commissioner of Sea and Shore ington, D.C. through the efforts of Cundy’s Harbor after Johnson died. Fisheries. Camp Fire Girls, in 1983, to serve as a memorial to Shortly after Johnson’s death, the Maine Legislature Maine’s lobstermen. appropriated money to cast three bronze copies of According to Collins’ press secretary, Elizabeth the statue, which were placed on display in Augusta, Anderson, the D.C. City Council is looking at a major Portland and near Bailey’s Island. The Cundy’s Harbor redevelopment along the Southwest Waterfront. How- Camp Fire Girls, inspired by their leader Ruth Heiser, ever, current law restricts land use of the Southwest later raised enough money by selling cookies and so- Waterfront and congressional action is required to liciting contributions to have a replica of the statue change that law. moved from Maine to Washington, D.C. Anderson said the Senate recently cleared the path According to the May 24, 1979 Senate Congressional for the redevelopment by clarifying the legal status of Record, former U.S. Senators Edmund Muskie and Wil- that property. liam Cohen sponsored a joint resolution to authorize Anderson explained that one area that is being re- the erection of the Maine Lobsterman statue on Maine developed includes Maine Avenue and nearby Water Avenue. Muskie said that the statue would serve as a Street where the Maine Lobsterman Memorial is cur- tribute to all Maine lobstermen who have devoted their rently located. She said that a bill to ensure that the lives to the sea. He requested that a narrative history of statue will be protected was passed unanimously by the the statue, which had been printed in the 1979 Harp- Senate and that it appears the bill will pass the House. swellian (an annual publication of the Cundy’s Harbor She added that Senator Collins has pushed to have the Camp Fire Girls), be included in the Congressional Re- statue placed in an equally prominent or more promi- cord, which was so voted. nent location on the waterfront and to have an unob- According to the Record, when the Maine Lobster- structed view of the water. man sculpture was initially unveiled, local lobstermen The original Maine Lobsterman sculpture was cast expressed disappointment at the lobsterman statue’s Photo by Wanda Curtis. TASTE THE ORION ORION DIFFERENCE! THANK YOU, MAINE FISHERMEN!

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