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Richard Howland is a lobsterman based in Islesford and vice chairman of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association.
For generations, Maine’s identity has been tied to the water. Lobstermen heading out before sunrise. Sternmen learning how to haul and bait traps. Families whose livelihoods depend on tides and seasons. Lobstering is more than an industry, it’s a way of life passed down through hands-on experience, not textbooks.
Today, that chain of knowledge is under real strain. Maine’s lobster fishery is navigating unprecedented uncertainty, from shifting markets and increasing regulatory pressure to the growing unpredictability of the weather. But the recently reported action from the Maine Department of Labor alleging violations of Maine’s child labor laws by a lobsterman highlights a deeper challenge: what we see as a disconnect between longstanding traditions and misapplication of policies that undermines the realities of fishing life. At a time when the future of the fishery is already uncertain, that disconnect could undermine Maine’s lobstering heritage.
While recent headlines have focused on a single case, the broader issue affects working waterfront communities across Maine.
I lobster in the island town of Islesford where the fishery is the lifeblood of our community. Taking our kids or neighbors’ kids to fish on a lobster boat is a common practice. They learn about lobstering and we teach them safety and responsibility on the water. This happens in coastal communities across the state.
As one lobsterman told me, “I got started on the stern as a 14-year-old. I wouldn’t be the man I am today if I hadn’t started working on boats from a young age. Passing on our heritage and teaching work ethic should be celebrated, not penalized.” I feel the same way.
These aren’t isolated stories; they reflect a deeply rooted tradition across Maine’s coastal communities. In fact, the state itself recognizes this connection through its student license program, which issues student lobster licenses to Maine kids starting as young as age eight. Students in the program may fish their own traps and sell the catch. They are sponsored by a licensed captain who serves as a mentor, teaching them about stewardship and sustainability, safety, running a small business and the value of hard work. More than 780 Maine youth held a student lobster license last year.
There are others who don’t have a student license but still want to give lobstering a try. They too find a captain willing to take them out. A young person may spend a day, a week or a season in the stern of a boat. Some satisfy their curiosity and move on. But for those who want to live and work in Maine, and for communities fighting to maintain opportunities for their kids, spending time on the stern of a lobster boat is a milestone experience that opens up a world of opportunities.
You can’t replicate the lessons of the water on land. Being on a boat teaches responsibility in a way few other environments can. It is physically demanding. Weather changes fast. Equipment breaks. Decisions matter. Young people given the chance to be on a traditional lobster boat learn resilience, independence and respect for both nature and community. These are life skills as much as job skills.
There’s also a powerful sense of belonging that comes from working in Maine’s lobster fishery. Lobster communities are deeply connected to harbors, islands and traditions that define coastal communities. Without that connection, the gap between Maine’s past and its future widens.
Getting youth onto boats isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about keeping Maine’s lobstering heritage alive and strong. The future of the lobster fishery depends on nurturing a new generation that understands stewardship firsthand. When young people participate, they don’t just inherit the resource; they become invested in protecting it.
That is why Maine’s lobster fishery has a student license program. And that is why Maine lobstermen welcome a teenager who asks for an opportunity to work in the stern of a boat. These are intentional investments in the future of the lobster fishery.
Maine has always been a place where hard work meets opportunity, especially on the water. That opportunity depends on passing knowledge from one generation to the next and it requires recognition of the unique realities of Maine’s fishing communities. Supporting safe, supervised pathways for young people to learn on the water is about preserving tradition and securing the future of one of Maine’s most iconic industries.