Consumers willing to pay more for lobster harvested with ropeless technology, UMaine study finds

UMAINE • May 12, 2026

U.S. consumers are willing to pay more for lobster harvested using ropeless fishing technology designed to reduce whale entanglement risks, according to new University of Maine research. A study by the University of Maine’s Maine Business School found that consumers are willing to pay an average of $3.42 more for a lobster roll made with lobster harvested using ropeless fishing technology when presented with information on animal welfare.