Welcome to the
Lobster Institute
We foster collaboration and communication in support of a sustainable and profitable lobster industry in the Northeast U.S. and Canada.
US-Canada lobster town meeting
Since 2004, the Lobster Institute has hosted an annual meeting of industry members, agency representatives, scientists, and policy experts from the US and Canada to discuss the latest issues facing the resource. The meeting is held in winter, and alternates between the two countries. Read more about the latest US-Canada Town Meeting here:
F/V Poozie
We recently acquired a 1949 32’ x 9’ wooden lobster boat, built by Basil Bray for Forrest “Skeet” MacDonald of Isle au Haut. Christened with the nickname of MacDonald’s daughter, “Poozie” was most recently owned by John DeWitt, a retired Isle au Haut lobsterman. Poozie will be a floating learning platform for students and visitors. Learn more about our plans for Poozie and our other educational initiatives here:
Lobster Health and the supply chain
The American lobster fishery consists of a supply chain, from harvesters to buyers, that exposes lobsters to different types of stress. The industry strives to sell healthy, vigorous, live lobsters to the next link in the supply chain because live lobsters command the highest price. In 2024, the Lobster Institute researched handling practices and produced a guide. Read More here:
linking arctic change to the future lobster fishery
The Lobster Institute is coordinating a multi-year collaborative project to address the impact of Arctic warming on North Atlantic ecosystems, focusing on the American lobster fishery in New England and Atlantic Canada. Using models and field data, it aims to understand how changes in ocean circulation affect lobster populations and, in turn, the fishing communities that rely on them. The project also explores how social and economic factors influence community resilience to climate change. Read more here:
lobsters in the news
Our weekly update of all things lobsters.
Week of April 17, 2026: This week’s update highlights the new ‘Office of Seafood’ at the USDA, which promises to provide wild fisheries such as lobster access to funding and resources historically reserved for traditional agriculture and aquaculture. There’s news about the potential impact of cool water temperatures and high fuel prices on Canada’s spring fishing season, as well as a new UMaine project investigating the role of cunner predation on lobster eggs.
The Lobster Institute is a center of discovery, innovation and outreach at the University of Maine. We coordinate research, engage in science-industry partnerships, disseminate research findings, and convene meetings for stakeholders as we address the challenges faced by this iconic fishery. We are based at the University at Maine Darling Marine Center along the Damariscotta estuary in midcoast Maine.
lobster institute Strategic goals
1
To be UMaine’s center for information and opportunities in lobster research.
2
To support faculty and student in engaging with industry stakeholders.
3
To increase outreach and visibility to stakeholders through traditional and new media.