ME Lobster Survey

For more information needed to participate in this study, please see the FAQ below and downloadable workbook HERE

For further questions about this study, please call Dr. Alexa Dayton at
(207)-367-2708 or Patrice McCarron at the Maine Lobstermen’s Association at (207) 967-4555

FAQ

Questions & Answers

CONSENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY FORM

Why is this survey important?

The lobster fishery absorbed a large influx of fishermen over the past two decades as other fisheries declined. Many fishermen that once relied on a variety of fisheries are now almost exclusively dependent on the lobster resource. The information collected by this survey will help us understand the role that the lobster fishery plays in supporting individuals, families and coastal communities and how they may be affected by potential changes in the fishery. This information is critical to making sure future management measures are based on sound numbers.

Who’s behind this?

The Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (MCCF), in partnership with the Main Lobstermen’s Association, and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute is conducting a research survey of Maine Lobstermen (All Zones and Area 1), to collect data and help gain understanding of the economic health and profitability of the lobster industry. The survey will be carried out by Market Decisions (a professional research firm). The survey was designed by a steering committee of fishermen, scientists and managers with the goal of creating a thoughtful and useful data set that can help us answer questions that are important to the industry.

How and when will the survey be done?

The survey will be accessible from January 1, 2026 – March 31, 2026 and can be done online using your computer, tablet, or smartphone, or by phone interview – and will take about 30 minutes to complete. Market Decisions will email, text everyone to announce the survey and then follow up with a call to a randomly picked sample of lobster permit holders this winter. Once the survey closes and results are compiled, we will hold meetings this summer to present the results to stakeholders in the lobster fishery and get your feedback on the results and what it means to you.

What questions will be asked?

The survey will cover many areas including: amount of involvement in lobstering, operational costs, access to financing for vessels and operations, and financial dependence on the lobster fishery and other fisheries. The detail is designed to capture aspects of your fishing business that will give a broader perspective on the industry’s opportunities and barriers under a lot of different changing conditions. A workbook which details the questions being asked can be found here: Prep Workbook

Who will see these data, and how will it be used?

All responses are confidential. It is illegal for Market Decisions to release individual identifiers without permission of that individual. Information that links responses to individuals will be known only to Market Decisions and will not be provided to anyone. Aggregated data will be used to provide the information that the industry and fishery managers need to evaluate the impacts of management proposals and regulatory actions and to plan for the future of the industry.

Why should I participate?

Because the lobster fishery supports thousands of individuals, families and communities throughout the Gulf of Maine. Only with your help, can we collect the information necessary to ensure the lobster industry gets the recognition and support it deserves and to prepare for what the future may bring.