File photo / Laurie Schreiber
A clam harvester heads out on the flats at dawn.
March 2, 2025
Maine lobster catch hits a 6-year low in 2024
File photo / Laurie Schreiber
Lobster landings reached a six-year low in 2024, but the boat price was the second highest on record.
Maine’s lobster landings continue to fall, in 2024 reaching a six-year low.
The catch declined by more than 10 million pounds, to 86.1 million pounds, according to preliminary data release by the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
That compares with landings in 2023 of 96.9 million pounds, which was itself a decline from 2022's 98.9 million pounds and 2021's 110.7 million pounds.
The industry’s biggest haul occurred in 2016 with 132 million pounds.
The falling numbers could in part reflect a decline in harvesters and traps.
According to 2024 data, there were 5,218 licensed harvesters who had 2.5 million trap tags. The number of tags doesn’t necessarily reflect the number of traps that were in the water.
In 2016, there were 6,009 harvesters who had 2.8 million tags.
A University of Maine study released last year also showed that lobster population density has spread out and declined in the Gulf of Maine since 1995, although the average size of an adult lobster was bigger.
Value increase
But the price paid to fishermen in 2024 was up.
Maine lobstermen took home $528.4 million on the strength of a $6.14 per pound price, a year-over-year increase of more than $46 million earned by lobstermen at the dock.
“The boat price paid to fishermen, which is the second highest on record, reflects the continued strong demand for this signature, premium Maine product,” said Gov. Janet Mills.
Other fisheries
Overall, Maine’s commercial harvesters among all fisheries earned $74 million more in 2024 than in 2023, with landings valued at $709.5 million.
“During a year shaped by unprecedented storms and damage to our working waterfronts, Maine’s commercial fishermen, aquaculturists and seafood dealers once again delivered a major economic benefit to our state,” said Mills.
The softshell clam fishery’s profile rose.
In 2023, softshell clam diggers earned $13.9 million, making the fishery the state’s third-most valuable that year.
In 2024, harvesters earned $58,971 more than in 2023, making the fishery the state’s second most valuable fishery at $15.4 million.
“Maine’s softshell clam fishery continues to be one of the most lucrative and in 2024 DMR began several projects to improve management this important resource,” said Patrick Keliher, the DMR’s commissioner. “DMR conducted programs to train municipal marine resource officials, held informational meetings and provided mini-grants to support municipal shellfish management and conservation work.”
Oysters and menhaden also ascended the ladder.
In 2023, Maine oysters were the fourth-most valuable harvested product at over $11 million on the strength of a 20-cent-per-pound increase in value.
File photo / Courtesy Nor'Easter Oyster Co.
Oyster growers and harvesters earned $14.8 million in 2024, up from $11 million in 2023.
In 2024, growers and harvesters earned $14.8 million on the strength of an eleven-cent price per pound increase for harvesters, which placed the fishery as Maine’s third most valuable.
In 2023, menhaden, used as bait for the lobster fishery, had a landed value of more than $10 million, making it the state’s fifth-most lucrative fishery.
In 2024, menhaden earned Maine fishermen $13.2 million at the dock, ranking it as Maine’s fourth most valuable fishery.
Although the elver fishery’s per-pound price remains high, the overall value took a steep fall compared with the previous two years.
In 2024, elver harvesters earned $12.2 million, ranking it Maine’s fifth most valuable as a result of a $1,239 per pound price paid to fishermen.
FILE PHOTO / DAVID CLOUGH
The value of elvers, used to grow market-size eels, dropped in 2024.
In 2022 and 2023, the elver fishery earned harvesters $20.1 million and $19.5 million respectively, making it the second-most valuable fishery at that time, with the per-pound price hovering at $2,000 or more.
“2024 was a challenging year for Maine’s commercial fishing and aquaculture industries,” said Keliher. “The storms that destroyed docks and piers up and down the coast put these industries at serious risk.”
Keliher credited state funding for helping to rebuild damaged coastal infrastructure a nod make it more resilient to the effects of climate change.
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