Maine lobster industry urges Trump to deliver on pledge to ease rules

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 3, 2025

Members of Maine’s fishing community are calling on President Donald Trump to change policies they say are harming the state’s lobstermen. “The Maine lobster fishery has, unfortunately, been no stranger to federal regulatory abuse,” Patrice McCarron, president of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, wrote in a recent letter to Trump. “MLA welcomes the policy changes.” Since passing an executive order in April to support the U.S. seafood industry, Trump has been signaling that he intends to change commercial fishing and lobstering regulations in New England. It’s unclear, though, exactly what Trump wants to address and whether any of those rules could change things for Maine fishermen.