2023 US Maine lobster catch declines 5.1% to lowest since 2009 due to climate change impact and whale protection regulations.

The US lobster fishing industry, primarily located in Maine, has faced a significant decline in catches, with the 2023 catch falling by 5.1% to reach the lowest figure since 2009. This decrease is attributed to challenges including the impact of climate change on lobsters' habitat and new regulations aimed at protecting rare whales such as the North Atlantic right whale. Maine's lobster catch in 2023 totaled 93.7 million pounds, down from the high of 132.6 million pounds in 2016. Fishermen are concerned about the future of the industry as lobsters migrate northward with the warming waters, altering traditional fishing grounds.

March 01, 2024
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