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News Feature

Stonington
Originally published in Island Ad-Vantages, March 14, 2013
Stonington named top lobster port fifth year running
Landings up, value down

by Jessica Brophy

For the fifth year in a row, Stonington is the number one port for live lobster landings in the state, with a value of $44,415,078, according to preliminary landings reports from the Maine Department of Marine Resources.

In 2012, Stonington landed 17,618,908 pounds of lobster—nearly three million more pounds than in 2011—but its value was worth nearly two million dollars less than in 2011.

The local trend mirrors the overall state numbers, where landings also increased while value decreased. In 2011, 104 million pounds were landed at a value of $334.7 million, the first year to break 100 million pounds and a 9-percent increase over 2010 landings. In 2012, 126 million pounds were landed at a value of $339 million.

The average statewide boat price last year was $2.69, according to a press release from the DMR. This represents the lowest average price-per-pound since 1994. The average boat price in 2011 was $3.19, which represented a four-cent drop on average boat price from 2010.

This recently released port data comes on the heels of the annual Fishermen’s Forum, where DMR Commissioner Pat Keliher announced the DMR was not seeking emergency legislation to address a potential price crisis like that of 2012.

Vinalhaven and Beals are the second and third ports with the highest lobster landings, with 10.1 and 4.6 million pounds, respectively. Friendship and Spruce Head round out the top five ports, with 4.5 and 3.9 million pounds.

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