About the Lobster Institute
Our Mission:
“To foster collaboration and communication in support of a sustainable and profitable lobster industry in the Northeast U.S. and Canada.”
Our Vision
The Lobster Institute’s vision is to be a leader in ensuring a sustainable and profitable American lobster industry by fostering transparency in communication among stakeholders; and championing credible scientific research supporting lobster and ecosystem health, conservation management and industry sustainability. We aspire to a University of Maine community engaged to its full potential to work collaboratively with lobster industry members, resource managers and policymakers, along with the international marine research community.
We operate with three strategic goals:
- To be UMaine’s center for information and opportunities in lobster research
- To support faculty and student in engaging with industry stakeholders
- To increase outreach and visibility to stakeholders through traditional and new media
The Lobster Institute receives advice and counsel from a diverse Advisory Board (see below), representing an array of industry sectors and geographic regions that keep us in touch and in tune with the needs of the lobster industry.
It is guided by a Vision Document and a five-year Strategic Plan, each compiled with input from representatives of all stakeholders.
- Marianne LaCroix (Chair) – Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative
- Geoff Irvine (Vice Chair) – The Lobster Council of Canada
- Remy Rochette (Secretary) – University of New Brunswick
- William Anderson – Lobsterman, Trescott, Maine
- Emily Blacklock – Fundy North Fishermen’s Association
- Curt Brown – Bold Coast Seafood
- Beth Casoni – Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association
- Sheila Dassatt – Downeast Lobstermen’s Association
- Dustin Delano – New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association
- Jim Dow – Lobsterman, Bass Harbor, Maine
- Cam Dyment – Cousins Maine Lobster
- Melanie Giffin – Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association
- Tim Harkins – Ready Seafood
- Heidi Henninger – NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- Jason Joyce – Lobsterman, Swans Island, Maine
- Luc LeBlanc – Maritime Fishermen’s Union Representative
- Bart Mansi – Guilford Lobster Pound, Connecticut
- Jack Merrill – Lobsterman, Islesford, Maine
- Virginia “Ginny” Olsen – Maine Lobstering Union, Local 207
- Tracy L. Pugh, Ph.D. – Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
- Kathleen Reardon – Maine Department of Marine Resources
- Arthur “Sookey” Sawyer – Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association
- Melanie Sonnenberg – Eastern Fishermen’s Federation
Chris Cash
Executive Director
christina.cash@maine.edu
207.581.1443
Biography
Christina “Chris” Cash is the Executive Director for UMaine’s Lobster Institute. Prior to her work with the Institute, Chris served as an Advancement Officer for Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Program and Development Director at the Frances Perkins Center and Director of Outreach at the Institute for Broadening Participation.Chris is a former lobster boat owner/operator fishing out of Monhegan Island, where she also worked as a pilot boat and tuna boat first mate. Chris also maintains a USCG 100-ton Master Captain’s license.
Education
B.A. English Literature, University of Maine, 1994
Chris Brehme, PhD
Project Director
chris.brehme@maine.edu
Biography
Chris Brehme has managed research and outreach projects for the University of Maine’s Lobster Institute since 2023. Prior to this, he served as the GIS Director for Trout Unlimited (2022-2023), and as Professor of Geography at Keene State College in New Hampshire (2009-2021).
Education
Ph.D. Geography, University at Buffalo, 2009
M.S. Geography, University of Idaho, 1997
B.A. Geography and Anthropology, University of Southern Maine, 1995
