The Maine Lobstermen’s Association warned Wednesday that the trade war that started when President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian products could be devastating to lobster harvesters and coastal communities.
“The Maine Lobstermen’s Association is deeply concerned by Canada’s announcement that it will impose a 25% tariff on American lobster beginning Sept. 8. Canada is one of the most important markets for Maine lobster, purchasing roughly half of our lobster during the critical fall fishing season. A 25% tariff could disrupt that market overnight, putting significant downward pressure on the price paid to lobstermen,” the association said in a statement.
“The impact would be felt immediately on Maine’s docks. Lobstermen are already facing historically high operating costs, an increasingly difficult business environment, and razor-thin margins. If prices fall far enough, many simply will not be able to afford to fish,” the association stated.
Patrice McCarron, MLA’s executive director, added: “Maine lobstermen should not become collateral damage in a broader trade dispute. Losing access to such an important market at the height of our fall season could be devastating to fishermen and coastal communities.”
The MLA called on the Trump administration to “act immediately to protect American fishermen and preserve tariff-free access for Maine lobster” before the Sept. 8 deadline. The group noted that the administration has pledged to strengthen America’s commercial fishing industry and keep U.S. seafood competitive and said “protecting access to one of Maine lobster’s most important markets is essential to fulfilling that commitment.”
“Maine lobstermen produce a premium, sustainably harvested American seafood product. They need fair access to their markets and the ability to compete — not another economic burden that could keep them tied to the dock,” McCarron said.
In Knox County, which trails only Hancock County in Maine lobster production, harvesters landed 20.6 million pounds last year, with a value of $124.4 million. Several Knox County towns were again among Maine’s biggest lobster ports. Stonington led the state, followed by Vinalhaven, Portland, Friendship and Spruce Head.
Waldo County has far fewer lobstermen and produced only about 370,000 pounds last year, worth about $2.2 million. That’s the lowest amount of any coastal county in Maine, but it was up from 2024, when the Waldo County lobster catch totaled 284,000 pounds, valued at $1.76 million.
Canada announced its retaliatory tariffs after Trump imposed 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian products exported to the United States.
Trump has repeatedly taken aim at Canada, which has been a close ally of the United States and one of its largest trading partners. He has made comments about making the sovereign country the 51st state.
Much of Maine’s lobster catch is exported to Canada for processing before being shipped to final customers, so the industry is particularly exposed to tariffs, U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said Tuesday.
King noted that much of the Maine lobster sent to Canada for processing gets reimported to the U.S., so it could be hit twice by tariffs, drastically raising the end price for consumers and potentially reducing demand.
“In the fall, almost half of the Maine lobster catch goes to Canada for processing which means that they will be tariffed on their way from the United States to Canada which could cut off the Canadian market with devastating consequences. And if the President’s misguided trade war further escalates, the processed lobsters could be taxed again when they are shipped back from Canada to the United States,” King said in a statement. “The majority party must listen to the industry leaders here in Maine, put pressure on the President, and move forward with an economic policy that works for us and not against us.”
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.