Page 8. MAINE COASTAL NEWS January 2009
Commercial Fishing News
SAVING O URSELVES
Hello again, Seabiscuit here. I hope zone, etc. It’s time to stop wasting money, When you first look at processing, one to lobster, which will increase demand to
everybody has had a Merry Christmas and a especially somebody else’s. Those of you will ask what actually is processing. In my cover the supply glut. No, this will not
Happy New Year. Let’s hope 2009 is better that think this is a cheap shot at MLA, sorry opinion, processing is convenient. Many happen overnight, but it is probably one of
for all. With this being January 2009, I but the fact that nobody from Washington or food products are processed so that a prod- our best bets. Remember what I said in my
thought that maybe I could offer a new Hancock counties or the offshore islands are uct can be made easier to obtain. Let’s say last letter about supply and demand. In order
perspective on where I feel the lobster market represented here shows a lack of respect to that you need some pineapple for a cake, you to survive, we must strive to expose more
is headed. this area, the fishermen, their families and the could buy a whole pineapple (which is only people elsewhere to the convenience of pro-
First thing I will say is that the recent communities that make up the majority of the from one part of our country), cut it, slice and cessed lobster.
fallout was a real good “wake-up” call to lobster fishery in Maine. They also rely chop, or just pick up a can off the shelf. So what can we do to establish process-
many people. Whether you believe it or not, heavily upon lobstering to sustain their com- What if you want a steak or chicken or even ing in Maine? Well, that will require some
there is a lot of good to come from this. As munities, not like Southern Maine who has a bacon from a pig? See processing means good old-fashioned hard work. Like I said
you know, MLA went to the governor and heavier population and a larger opportunity making a product more available to people earlier, it won’t happen overnight, but here
asked him to form a task force. This knowl- to work in industry. We’re all in this together, who would otherwise not be able to easily are a couple of ideas off the top. Community
edge is in the November, 2008, Volume 19, let’s all work together. obtain. So why not just make lobster more supported processing between fishermen
Issue 10, page3 of the MLA newsletter. O.K., enough of the constructive criti- easily obtainable? Yes, I know that we al- and town’s people, like the sardine cannery
Funding for this “task force” is coming from cism, let’s look at this situation in “real time.” ready have some processing, but more is idea; Fishermen or co-ops working directly
the R.E.D. Board (lobster license plates) to First question, what happened? The answer needed here in Maine. Over the years, Maine with processors (existing or new) to help
the tune of well over $100,000 dollars. is simple – too many lobster, no market. lobster was always considered a luxury item supply and establish a profit sharing format.
Now, look at what this task force is made Who’s to blame? All involved, dealers, to purchase, but those days are fading away. Get out- there and promote this product
up of; not one person on this panel of “ex- processors and yes, even us fishermen. Here We are catching too many lobsters to main- nation and worldwide.
perts” is tied directly to lobstering or pro- is my simple point of view: Fishermen have tain that status, and with Canadian proces- Instead of our license fee going to the
cessing. I don’t know about you, but this bills. The more bills, the more we fish. The sors in direct control of that market, we’re Lobster Promotional Council, which has
worries me – looks like they think fishermen, more we fish, the more we catch. The more we screwed. Remember that we live in a world of failed miserably, starting years ago, invest
dealers and processors are maybe not very catch, the lower the price. The lower the convenience. Many co-ops and pounds are that money to help support the need for
smart. Well here is what I do know; whenever price, the harder we fish to cover our bills. See locked into selling to one buyer; no matter processing.
the MLA gets together with the governor, a it’s simple, let’s face it. The basic art of the price, not good for the fishermen, easy for Processing does have a drawback and that is
lot of money gets spent and nothing ever catching lobsters has not changed in many, the co-op manager. They don’t have to look the Maine government which is not very
gets solved, for example: whales, rope, sliver many years, but the market place has for markets that way, just put the lobster on business friendly. This will have to change
changed big time. With planes, trucks and a truck and send them on their way. if any processing is to succeed. Finding and
processing, it’s a whole new game. Another advantage with processing is keeping employees is hard and maybe that is
As we all know, Maine lobster is the best making lobster available to the general con- where our license fee money or Promotional
out there. For some reason, Maine’s coast sumer in the grocery market. Shipping to a Council fund could help with the cost of
just plain yields the best product out there. live market is one big headache and very workmen’s compensation and unemploy-
The problem is that Maine just has not uti- expensive. If we’re shipping live lobster to ment. Things would have to change.
lized that potential; case in point, #1, Cana- California, it must go by air; that is astronomi- As you can see, with this situation that
dian processors prefer Maine lobster to their cal in price. Shipping costs more than the we are all in, I feel that lobster fishing and its
own. Case in point #2, travel out of state and actual product. Processed lobster can be marketing system has gotten the “wake-up”
you’ll find oversize lobster advertised as delivered by truck with less cost and liability. call and I believe that we “fishermen” and
Maine lobster. How can we fix this problem? By opening up the grocery market to pro-
Continued on Page 18.
Well, I say we need to look more at marketing cessed meat, you are exposing more people
and processing in the state.
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