Maine Lobster Community Alliance

06/16/2026

Women in Fisheries: Meet Laura Hughes!

Laura is the bundle of energy who keeps the South Bristol Co-op running for its 45 members. From making sure the docks and equipment are maintained to keeping lobsters moving, bait and fuel on hand, and the retail store and restaurant operating smoothly, Laura helps keep every part of the co-op working. Thank you, Laura, for all you do for Maine’s fishing community!

Read more in Landings: https://buff.ly/KAY91uo

06/13/2026

Have cunner developed an appetite for lobster eggs?

Cunner aren’t new to the Gulf of Maine, and they have long been known to feed on young lobsters in their early benthic stages. But recently, fishermen have reported finding cunner in traps with lobster eggs in their mouths.

University of Maine researchers are now taking a closer look at whether cunner may be targeting egg-bearing female lobsters.

Fishermen can help. If you find a cunner with lobster eggs in its mouth, please take a photo and record the date and location where the fish was caught. If possible, measure the cunner or take a photo of the fish next to a measuring tool.

Text your information to 508-348-9039 or email [email protected].

Read more in Landings: https://buff.ly/TDOQAhR
By Carli Stewart, National Fisherman, reprinted with permission

06/12/2026

Is the Gulf of Maine Getting Colder?

Temperatures in the Gulf of Maine have been consistently warming since 2010. But lobstermen and scientists have noticed that temperatures have been much cooler over the past two years. What’s happening?

Read more in Landings: https://buff.ly/E1QNGGh

06/11/2026

A loss in Maine’s fishing community is felt by us all. It is a sobering reminder of the risks fishermen face every day while making a living on the water.

This Saturday, a benefit supper will be held to support the family of Stephen Johnson, who tragically lost his life in a boating accident off Beals Island in May. We encourage those who are able to attend and show their support.

The Maine Lobster Community Alliance has made a contribution to the Johnson family through our Relief Fund, and we invite others who are able to join us in supporting Stephen’s family during this difficult time.

For those who are not local but would still like to help, donations can be made through the family’s GoFundMe:

https://buff.ly/VpRSZr2

06/05/2026

They may be small, but alewives play a huge role in Maine's coastal and freshwater ecosystems.

These nutrient-rich fish fuel everything from lobster bait supplies to bald eagles, ospreys, seals, and freshwater habitats. Thanks to decades of restoration efforts, including dam removals, fishway repairs, and habitat improvements, alewives are making a remarkable comeback across Maine.

Learn how communities, conservation groups, and fishermen helped bring these little fish back, and why their return matters to all of us

By Melissa WatermanIt’s the little things that matter. Take alewives, for example. These round-bellied little fish return to Maine rivers and streams each spring, packed full of oil and nutrients. Lobstermen eagerly await their arrival to use as fresh bait in the early summer. In fact, an array of...

06/03/2026

Where do island residents give birth, receive emergency care, or find medical help when they're miles from the mainland?

Matinicus Island resident Eva Murray reflects on the evolution of healthcare in one of Maine's most remote communities—from island nurses and volunteer rescue crews to LifeFlight evacuations and modern emergency response. It's a powerful look at resilience, community, and what it really means to access medical care "out to sea."

Read the full story below:

By Eva Murray“Where do you give birth?” I was asked this question at this year’s Fishermen’s Forum in Rockport, as I chatted with other attendees about medical care “out to sea.”Since the early 1960’s, the residents of Matinicus Island have given birth in the same place they go to atte...

06/02/2026

🦞 Great News for the Maine Lobster Community Alliance! 🦞

We're excited to share that the Maine Lobster Community Alliance (MLCA) has been selected as the beneficiary of the Hannaford Helps Community Bag Program at the 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 for the month of June!

Throughout June, every time you purchase a Hannaford Helps Community Bag at the Kennebunk Hannaford, $1 will be donated directly to the MLCA to support our work on behalf of Maine's lobster fishing communities.

This is an easy way to support both the environment and Maine's commercial fishing heritage while doing your regular grocery shopping.

A sincere thank you to Hannaford Supermarkets for supporting the MLCA and investing in our coastal communities.

06/01/2026

Before the summer season gets into full swing, it's worth taking a hard look at your boat's safety gear and making sure everything is in working order.

In the June issue of Landings, Brian Smith of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern New England reminds fishermen that a Coast Guard dockside safety exam can help identify issues before they become problems offshore.

At the end of the day, every fisherman wants the same thing—to come home safe. Now is a good time to make sure your vessel, gear, and crew are ready for the months ahead.

Read the article here: https://buff.ly/sGManU9

By Brian Smith, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern New EnglandIt’s been a while since I last shared a column here in Landings. As gear hits the water and the June sun finally starts to show itself, there’s no better time to talk about what we all aim for: getting back to the pier at the end of the...

05/28/2026

From Maine to Ireland: Gear Tells a 30-Year Story

More than 30 years ago, Irish lobstermen came to Maine looking for answers as their lobster stocks declined. They fished with MLA members, learned about V-notching, and brought that conservation practice home. Today, Ireland has a healthy lobster fishery.

This winter, a few small pieces of Maine fishing gear washed ashore in Ireland — a powerful reminder of the connection between our fisheries and the lasting impact of sharing what works.

Read more: https://buff.ly/uLPgeG6

05/27/2026

The alewives are running (or I guess swimming)! 🐟

Alewife (*Alosa pseudoharengus*), also known as river herring, are a vital species for both freshwater and marine ecosystems — and for Maine’s lobster fishery as well.

Each year, these remarkable fish make an incredible journey from the Atlantic Ocean upstream into rivers and lakes to spawn. Alewives are an *anadromous* species, meaning they spend most of their lives at sea before returning to freshwater to reproduce. During spawning season, hundreds of thousands of young fish hatch and begin their own journey, finding shelter in lakes, rivers, and estuaries before eventually making their way to the ocean.

For the lobster industry, alewives provide an important and sustainable alternative bait source that supports the fishery year after year. Here in Maine, commercial harvesting rights for alewives also create meaningful economic opportunities for local communities.

To help ensure the long-term sustainability of this keystone species, alewife fisheries are managed through federal, state, and local oversight, with volunteers and conservation organizations playing an important role in supporting healthy river herring populations.

If you have the chance this season, visit a local river and see these incredible fish working their way upstream — it’s one of Maine’s great natural events to witness.