ROCKLAND, Maine — A state judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed last summer by an animal rights group that sought to stop the steaming of live lobsters at the Maine Lobster Festival.
Justice Patrick Larson issued his ruling Jan. 26 in the state court in Knox County in the civil lawsuit filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals against Rockland and the Maine Lobster Festival.
Larson ruled that PETA’s claim — that its local members had to avoid the festival to avoid the trauma associated with seeing live animals being steamed to death — did not meet the legal requirement necessary for the court to find a public nuisance was being created.
“Because the complaint fails to allege facts sufficient to establish the special injury requirement of a public nuisance claim, the court need not address the parties arguments about whether live lobster steaming constitutes a nuisance,” Larson stated in his ruling.
The justice also ruled that a PETA member has no right to be free from conduct they personally find objectionable.
PETA, a nonprofit organization based in Virginia, filed the lawsuit July 28, days before the annual festival opened for 2025. PETA often stages demonstrations on the eve of the festival to draw attention to its cause.
PETA claimed in its lawsuit that steaming live lobsters violates state animal abuse law. The organization asked the court to issue an injunction against the festival and the city of Rockland.
PETA further argued in its lawsuit that Rockland is a party to the illegal activity by permitting the festival to use public property for the steaming of lobsters. In addition, PETA claims that allowing the festival to use the public property, prevents the general public and its members from accessing the waterfront for ordinary purposes.
Festival Board President Celia Crie Knight said last year that members of PETA are welcome to attend the festival and enjoy their time here. But, she said, no demonstrations or protests are allowed on the grounds during the festival.
Admission to the festival is free.
In 2013, PETA filed a complaint with then-District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau about the methods used by Linda Bean’s lobster processing plant in Rockland. PETA argued that the processing plant violated Maine’s animal cruelty law.
Rushlau said in September 2013 his research showed that the state’s animal cruelty laws never were intended to cover invertebrate species — animals without backbones.
“Because it is far from clear that the Legislature intended to include lobsters and crabs within this definition, and the opposite intention is more likely, I conclude that the conduct you describe in the materials submitted is not prosecutable under Maine’s cruelty to Animals statute,” Rushlau stated in his response to Dan Paden of PETA. “I will not ask the Rockland Police Department to conduct any additional investigation, nor file a complaint based on your investigation.”
PETA issued a statement later expressing appreciation for Rushlau’s thoughtful review of the issue while disagreeing with his decision.
“We firmly believe that the law affords protection to all sentient animals, and we will be following up with him on that point and others and do not consider the matter closed,” the statement said.
Rushlau has since been appointed a Maine district court judge.
PETA has an annual budget of $71 million. Salaries and benefits of its organization total $18.5 million, according to its 2024 income tax filing with the IRS. No single employee earns more than $200,000 annually, according to the filing.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.