The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) announced last week that while the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank (GOM/ GBK) lobster stock remains above its abundance threshold, overfishing is occurring, a finding that has sparked concern and disagreement from industry groups who say the assessment overstates fishing’s role in the stock’s recent decline.
The 2025 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment was released on Oct. 20 and stated that the GOM and GBK stock has declined by 34 percent since its peak in 2018, though it is “not depleted” and continues to support a robust fishery. In contrast, the Southern New England stock remains “significantly depleted” but is not experiencing overfishing, with abundance at record lows across all life stages.
“The Benchmark Stock Assessment is a considerable advancement in our understanding U.S. American lobster resource. It was fully endorsed by an external panel of fishery scientists as the best scientific information available to manage the lobster resource,” stated Board Chair Renee Zobel from New Hampshire. “On behalf of the American Lobster Board, I commend the members of the Technical Committee and Stock Assessment Subcommittee for their outstanding work on the 2025 Benchmark Stock Assessment Report. This assessment reflects the commitment of the Committee and Peer Review Panel to providing the Board with the highest-caliber science to inform management decisions and improve our understanding of the complex and changing relationship between the environment and lobster resource.”
The Commission stated that while the stock remains above its abundance limit, recent exploitation rates sit “just above the threshold,” indicating that overfishing is occurring.
This conclusion has been met with resistance from Maine’s fishing industry, which argues that the data reflect natural cycles rather than unsustainable harvest pressure.
In a statement responding to the report, the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) said it “respectfully disagrees with the characterization and the underlying assumption driving that conclusion.” While acknowledging the Commission’s findings, NEFSA said that lobster surveys and landings hit “record highs in 2016-2018- levels that far exceeded historical expectations.” The organization argued that a modest decline following such highs is “inevitable over time” and should not automatically be interpreted as overfishing.
“We continue to believe that environmental conditions- particularly fluctuating ocean temperatures, habitat shifts, and increased predation- are primary drivers behind recent trends,” NEFSA stated, adding that the lobster fishery “remains one of the most well-managed and conservation-minded fisheries in the world,” with long-standing measures like trap limits, v-notch protections, and size restrictions ensuring sustainability.
The Maine Lobstermen’s Community Alliance (MLCA) echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that despite the recent drop in survey abundance, “the fishery itself remains strong.” According to the MLCA, the new benchmark assessment “provides important data for managers, but it’s equally important to recognize that environmental shifts-especially rising ocean temperature- are influencing where and how lobsters settle and survive.” The group stated that Maine’s harvesters “continue to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining their commitment to sustainable fishing practices.”
The ASMFC’s board has accepted the benchmark report for management use and is expected to begin an evaluation of the management strategy to determine potential next steps.
“While we share the concern for sustaining a healthy lobster population, we do not agree that overfishing is an appropriate or accurate designation,” stated NEFSA.
