For lobstermen, prices are up for everything except lobsters

HARPSWELL ANCHOR • September 1, 2026

Almost every lobsterman has the same answer about what they’re paying too much for: “Everything.” They are feeling the squeeze in every aspect: fuel, bait, traps, rope, insurance and more. The only thing that they say hasn’t gone up is the price they get for their lobsters. Independence is a hallmark of lobstering. Lobstermen choose early mornings, physical work and bad weather over the strictures of a 9-to-5 job. Still, they cannot escape the dynamics of the global economy, geopolitics and regulations, all of which are making it more expensive to go fishing.