SWAN'S ISLAND – At age 31, with 15 years of lobster fishing experience under his belt, Zeke Freelove is betting he won't be able to get a lobster fishing license until he's 50.

That's because of the state's limited-entry system, which leaves aspiring fishermen on waiting lists for years.

Freelove moved to Swan's Island when he was 17, married an "island girl," bought a house, joined the volunteer fire department and became active in other civic activities.

As required by law, to get a lobster license he apprenticed with an established lobster fisherman—in this case, his father-in-law. When he graduated from the apprenticeship program, he signed up on a waiting list for all would-be license-holders in Zone B. (The state's lobster fishery is divided into seven management zones, each governed by an industry council that has some degree of autonomy in regulating that zone's fishery.)

Eight years ago, Freelove was No. 26 on the waiting list. Today, he's No. 16. He is unhappy with the glacial pace of moving to the top spot, which would allow him, finally, to get his own license rather than serve as sternman.

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