As a member of Maine’s seafood industry, I support reforming Maine’s lobster landing law in order to bring both lobster and groundfish landings back to Maine.

The facts are undeniable. In the last five years groundfish landings in Maine have fallen over 60% and is currently at a record-low level. This reduction in groundfish landings has and will continue to cripple Maine’s seafood industry if the current laws are not amended. Maine’s waterfront industry creates jobs and provides economic support to Maine’s families, bureaucracies, and local government through wages and taxes.

The prohibition of landing bycatch lobsters puts Maine at a competitive disadvantage. Bycatch lobsters are allowed to be landed in other New England states, taking vessels and jobs out of Maine and providing states that allow bycatch lobsters with money, landings, and jobs that should remain here in Maine.

I urge the Legislature to amend Maine’s backwards lobster laws without delay. Groundfish, and the vessels that catch and supply them are not only an important part of Maine’s economy, but also an important part of Maine’s heritage.

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Sincerely,

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