Man in front of hundreds of lobsters being weight on dock

Lobster Industry

Collections of Jesup Memorial Library

In an account written of a 1605 English expedition to what is now Maine, a member of the crew described the ease of fishing for lobster, remarking that he made note of this not because the lobster tasted great, but because the crustacean’s abundance showed how much potential profit could be made from fishing them.

It would be more than two centuries before European settlers turned lobster fishing into a driving economic force for the state. Until the mid-1800s, lobsters were used by both the Wabanaki and European settlers as fish bait and fertilizer. Among European settlers, they were considered “poverty food.”

was Maine’s booming canning industry and the influx of wealthy out-of-state vacationers and summer residents who ate lobster while visiting and wanted it on their dinner table and at their favorite fine dining restaurants that transformed lobster into a food-fad that continues to this day.

As the sardine canning industry collapsed and many traditional groundfish fisheries declined, the lobster industry grew, becoming the state’s most valuable fishery by the 21st century. The fishery’s long-term sustainability relies on management measures such as protections for egg-bearing females and requirements that undersized and oversized lobsters be returned to the sea.

After reaching record levels in the 2010s, the fishery has faced new challenges, including climate changes affecting the lobsters‚Äô cold water habitat. As scientists and lobster fishers work to understand the effects of warming waters in the Gulf of Maine, they are exploring new technologies and management approaches to help the fishery adapt to changing conditions and maintain the economic and cultural roles lobster play in Maine.

Downeast Fisheries Trail

Lobster pound being constructed on riverbank in 1928 — Lobster pound, showing construction, Maine 1928. Library of Congress.

Lobsters boats on a bay with islands in the background — Lobster boats in Kennebunkport. Maine Office of Tourism.

Old man on rickety dock with lobster boat in background — Lobsterman Stands On Lobster Car Holder Next To Trap, Boat And Harbor In Background At South Addison. Maine State Archives.

Man in sweater and cap holding a hula hoop like lobster net by the shore — Hoop net; first trap employed in catching lobsters. Penobscot Marine Museum.

A studio product photograph of a modern rectangular lobster trap made of black vinyl-coated wire mesh, resting on a white background. Inside, the mesh netting funnels, bait bag, and bricks used for weight are clearly visible. — Wire lobster trap. Penobscot Marine Museum.

A black and white photograph of a rustic, wood-shingled lobster shack situated on a rocky coastline. Numerous wooden lobster traps are piled high across the foreground and side yard, while a few small boats float in the calm cove water behind the building. — Image of lobster shack by the harbor. Penobscot Marine Museum.

A vintage black and white photograph capturing a young boy standing on a wooden pier, carefully holding open the large claws of a massive lobster. A small crowd of adults stands around him watching the moment. — A freckle-faced boy in knickers marvels at the size of this huge lobster. The postcard featuring this photo indicates the boy or the lobster is named "Oscar." It is believed that lobsters can live more than 100 years. Penobscot Marine Museum.

A black and white photograph inside a dimly lit workshop where three young men are actively constructing or repairing traditional arched wooden lobster traps using hammers and hand tools. — Making traps at Carter's in March 1972. Penobscot Marine Museum

A historic black and white postcard-style photograph showing a bearded fisherman wearing a cap and sweater, standing against a sided building while proudly holding up a very large lobster. Text at the bottom reads, "A PORT CLYDE LOBSTER." — Eldridge Stone with a 10 pound lobster which was caught on August 12th, 1914. It measured 36" from claw to claw. Penobscot Marine Museum.

A vintage black and white photograph featuring a row of large stone and brick outdoor cooking kettles at an oceanfront property. A man stands near one of the smoking structures, and text at the bottom reads, "THE KETTLES AT PARKERS LOBSTER POUND, SEARSPORT, ME." — The Kettles at Parker's Lobster Pound, Searsport, Maine. Black and white post card close view of the natural stone fireplaces which support the cooking kettles. A man is about to put a net bag with a lobster into the cooker. Penobscot Marine Museum.

A close-up, black and white photograph focusing on a fisherman's thick, gloved hands as they handle and prepare a lobster directly above a traditional wooden slatted lobster trap on a boat. — A lobsterman on the AMANDA R measures the carapice of a lobster to determine if it is the appropriate size to sell. Penobscot Marine Museum.

A photographic contact sheet containing twelve individual black and white frames that sequentially capture an elderly man sitting at a dining table, demonstrating the process of cutting, cracking open, and eating a lobster. — This contact sheet contains 12 images of 120 film of Stanley Powell eating a lobster. Kosti Ruohomaa took photographs detailing the process of shelling and eating a lobster, including photos of a lobster eating contest. Penobscot Marine Museum

A vibrant color photograph of a lavish seafood spread laid out across wooden crates on a dock. The feast includes bright red boiled lobsters, corn on the cob, bowls of soup, lobster rolls, and wine, with a scenic Maine harbor, lobster shacks, and hanging colorful buoys in the background. — A brightly colored lobster feast is laid on on weathered crates by hand-made lobster traps. The backdrop is Carver's Harbor on Vinalhaven, including the fishing boat ALHA, in 1960. Penobscot Marine Museum

A high-angle, bright color photograph of a family of three—a mother, father, and young daughter—smiling and interacting at a white outdoor picnic table while sharing a meal of whole steamed lobsters, clams, french fries, and onion rings. — Family enjoying steamed lobster in Kennebunkport. Maine Office of Tourism.

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