Preliminary data released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) indicates Maine’s commercial fisheries saw a drop in value in 2025, largely due to a drop in landings by the state’s lobster industry.
The preliminary data indicates commercial harvesters across all fisheries earned USD 619.1 million (EUR 534.1 million) in 2025, which according to the DMR is the 14th consecutive year fishery earnings topped USD 500 million (EUR 541 million). However, that total is a 14 percent drop from the USD 709 million (EUR 611.6 million) that the department reported in 2024.
A significant chunk of that decrease came from the state’s lobster fishery, which brought in USD 461.4 million (EUR 398.1 million) in value off of 78.8 million pounds of landings. Maine’s DMR also said the boat price averaged USD 5.85 (EUR 5.04) per pound, the third-highest on record.
However by value that total is down 12 percent from the USD 528.4 million (EUR 455.9 million) it brought in in 2024, and by volume, landings were down from the 86 million pounds the fishery took in in 2024 – which itself was a 15-year low for the fishery. DMR Commissioner Carl Wilson attributed the decreases to a tough economic environment.
“When adjusting for inflation, the overall value of lobster in 2025 was more in line with the value earned in 2008,” Wilson said. “The impact of inflation on fishermen in 2025 not only challenged their bottom line, but when combined with market uncertainty due to tariffs, and a late molt that limited access by the summer fishery to new shell lobsters, it may have caused many to change fishing behavior, including limiting trips.”
According to DMR’s landings program data, Maine lobster harvesters took 21,000 fewer fishing trips in 2025 than they did in 2024 – a 10 percent decline in overall fishing effort.
The state’s softshell clam industry again took the second spot in terms of value, bringing in USD 21.6 million (EUR 18.6 million). That total is a 40 percent increase from the USD 15.4 million (EUR 13.3 million) it brought in in 2024. An increase in landings by 441,578 pounds and an increase in average price from USD 2.72 (EUR 2.34) per pound to USD 3.49 (EUR 3.01) per pound both contributed to the big increase.
The third spot in 2025 was taken by Atlantic menhaden, moving up one spot compared to the stats in 2024. The Atlantic menhaden fishery brough in USD 18.9 million (EUR 16.3 million) in 2025, up 30 percent over the USD 13.2 million (EUR 11.4 million) posted in 2024. Landings also jumped from 26.7 million pounds to 31.4 million pounds.
Oyster harvesters dropped one spot to fourth place on USD 16.2 million (EUR 13.9 million) in earnings in 2025, which was up 8 percent from the USD 14.8 million (EUR 12.8 million) it earned in 2024.
“The reputation for Maine oysters continues to grow as consumers prize their clean, briny, sweet flavor which comes from the cold clean, nutrient rich waters along our coast,” Wilson said.
Rounding out the top five, Maine scallops earned both fishers and aquaculturists USD 9.3 million (EUR 8 million).
“Maine scallops continue to provide a vital winter fishery for harvesters, an emerging opportunity for aquaculturists, and a delicacy for consumers,” Wilson said.
