Steneck Quoted in Modern Farmer Article on Lobster Industry
Robert Steneck, a marine scientist at the University of Maine, spoke with Modern Farmer for the article, “The accidental lobster farmers.” According to the article, lobster landings rose to 125 million pounds in 2012 and 2013, five times the historic average. The increase in crustaceans caused a drop in price that could harm Maine’s industry, the article states. Steneck said the situation in the Gulf of Maine has come to resemble a monoculture, with lobsters prevailing over other fisheries. He added he would like to see Maine diversify and develop industries around other species such as black sea bass. “When you realize 80 to 85 percent of all marine resource value in Maine comes from a single species, you realize how precarious it is,” Steneck said. “We don’t have a Plan B.”