Lobster catches break record at 93 mln lb for 2010

Friday, February 25, 2011, 02:20 (GMT + 9)

Maine accomplished a record American lobster catch (Homarus americanus) in 2010. The Division of Marine Sources (DMR) documented landings of much more than 93 million lb – a rise of 12 million lb in contrast to 2009’s 81 million lb — which fishers are calling a drastic improvement, if not a document.

The value paid to lobster fishers came as even brighter information.

DMR’s approximated total value of the landings final yr is USD 308.seven million, with lobster fishers obtaining an estimated common price tag of USD three.31 per lb for their catch in 2010.

Maine has nearly 6,000 licensed business lobster fishers, 4,260 of whom are thought to have actively fished very last yr and contributed to the report landings, state officials knowledgeable, reports Bangor Every day Information.

DMR also mentioned that the price of the lobster catch accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the whole worth of all industrial marine species harvested in the state final 12 months. The total worth of all marine species harvested there in 2010, such as shrimp, salmon and scallops, was USD 448.seven million.

Bob Baines, a fisher from South Thomaston and chairman of Maine’s Lobster Advisory Council, says the price tag at the dock climbed by about USD .forty cents a lb in comparison to the 12 months prior, which is nonetheless significantly significantly less than the prices witnessed in the course of the flourishing economy of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Baines said his income has dropped by about half since then.

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Coastal organizations also noticed far better figures, as Maine’s lobster fishery has for a prolonged time represented its coast’s main financial force.

For the past 3 years, myriad corporations have witnessed sluggish returns, so a lot of are pleased to see growing lobster rates and revenue. Not only lobster fishers, but also trap builders, truck dealers and other firms are rejoicing.

Even so, veteran fishers do not think the DMR’s claims that the 2010 landings achieved record numbers. Rather, they say fishers caught a lot far more lobsters in the early to mid 2000’s – prior to Maine’s ordered mandatory reporting by sellers.

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By Natalia True
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com