One cannot think of the Maine coast without immediately thinking of succulent bright red Lobsters. Lobster fishing is a long-time tradition among the locals living on Mount Desert Island. A profession that can be quite profitable, also comes with significant risk as so much time is spent on the cold waters surrounding the island. Through weather fair and foul, these hardy lobstermen, and women head out daily to work their lobster traps.
Tending to their lifeline, which is their lobster boat, these lobster men spend much time preparing and maintaining their equipment. Permits, when available go for about $14,000 and this permit allows the fisherman to set out 800 traps. Traps are set out further out during the summer months to find the cooler water, and closer inland in winter due to the drop in water temperatures. It is said that a hard working lobster man can make upwards to $100,000 US in a good year. But that involves a lot of hard work in tough working conditions.
However, this year lobster prices have been the lowest in history. For dockside prices of $2.50 to $4.00 per pound of lobster, who needs steak? Between the drop in lobster prices and the increase in fuel and maintenance costs, these lobster men are starting to feel the pinch. To help reduce the oversupply of cheap lobsters, lobster men docked their boats for several weeks in the beginning of July. However, lobster men felt the call of the sea, and those luscious lobsters waiting to be plucked out of the water and have resumed fishing.
All around Mount Desert Island, these lobster boats can be seen cruising through the waters going from buoy to buoy, checking their traps and returning them to the sea. Female lobsters are able to lay up to 100,000 eggs which keeps lobster supply sustainable.
But who knew that lobster is a low-cal, low-cholesterol, high protein food ? It is the prefect diet food, and super affordable now. I think I’m going to go and support the local economy and eat as many lobsters as I can tomorrow. Bon Apetite!
Categories: Acadia, Foot Prints, Maine, Photography
Tags: bar harbor, fishing, lobster, maine, mount desert island, nature, ocean, Photography, Travel
Love lobster and with a glass of white wine or 2 glass maybe…
Great shots, and funny to see the seagulls – they always knows when there’s food at the neighborhood…
It is true about the seagulls, they always know where a free meal is to be had.
We love Santa Barbara’s lobster season!! there’s nothing like fresh lobster
I agree !
Oh yeah, Lobster = yummy….
The soft shell lobsters are so sweet and tender. If you ever get a chance, try them! Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my post. I hope to see you back again.
Great shots down east
Thank you so much for commenting, and I hope to see you back soon.
Love this post! I’ve always wanted to visit Maine and you have given me a taste of it in your beautiful pictures! Thanks.
Thank you Sarah! You are too kind. I have several other posts that I put up this week while on vacation there. Feel free to browse through my blog and hope to see you back soon. Bella
Reblogged this on This beautiful life.
Thank you for sharing my post on your blog. I appreciate the vote of confidence.
Your pictures make me think another trip to Maine is long overdue…
Thanks for sharing the plight of the lobstermen, whose crops are being just as devalued as other farmers’. It’s a shame.
I agree about the farmers and fishermen. Although I do see the passion they have in what they do. They know that there will be better years ahead. Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my FB post. I hope that you think it worthy to subscribe and will be back soon. Bella
Great post. I was planning on writing a similar post soon for my Fishues blog. New England lobstermen are not too happy these days that’s for sure. Check out my blog. http://www.seavanhorn.wordpress.com
You have an amazing life and an amazing blog. I most certainly would like to share some of your story if that’s all right with you. Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to browse through my blog for more MDI posts from this week, and lots from Peru! Bella
Lovely photos and post. And I’m getting hungry now.
Heheh…
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Thankyou so much Anarya. It is indeed quite an honor, and I am humbled to be able to share a small part of the world of these lobstermen. Thanks for commenting and hope to see you back soon.
Being a Maine native whose lived here my entire life and having myself taken a gazillion Maine lobster boat photos and smelled even more lobsters boiling, I can honestly say, “I hate Lobster!”
But, your photography talents are exceptional!
I can totally get that Debra. Lobster is really quite a rich food, even though it is lo-cal, etc. Thanks for your kind words on my photos, as it sounds like you’re an expert of capturing them on film. Thanks for commenting and hope to see you again.
Believe me…I am not an expert! I’m a point and shoot kind of gal, but it works for me. And yes, lobster is wayyy too rich for me. Plus I never liked the chewy texture of it, but that’s just me.
Or were you being sarcastic about the photo taking? I can never tell…my son tells me I don’t ever recognize sarcasm…I hope I didn’t offend you in any way. That wasn’t my intent. Your photos are lovely.
Nope, not sarcastic at all. Also what I meant is that you’re an expert in photographing lobstermen and their boats as you’ve been doing it so long. Lucky lady!
I’m sorry for misunderstanding…I guess I get a little nervous b/c in the past I’ve had the misfortune of having people post who are negative and mean. So glad you weren’t one of them.
You make me miss New England. I grew up in Maine and my uncle is a lobsterman from that area. Beautiful photos. I miss having lobster. It has been way too long.
Sounds like it’s time to get on an airplanne for a visit Eileen! It is my pleasure to bring some of Maine back to your home. If you want, there are more posts from this week while I was on MDI. So drop by and browse. Have a lovely Sunday!
Love this … great photos … I’ll be back to read more later!
Thank you so much Paige ! I look forward to your return.
Thanks for the reminder of how lovely Maine is in the summer. Congrats on being FP!
Thank you so much Sara. It is my pleasure to be able to share part of the lives of these lobstermen. I appreciate your kind comments and hope to see you back soon.
Hmmm, a nice warm lobster tail, bread and butter and some cold beer. Heaven !!
Nice pics, thanks.
Well Cartoonmick, I’m already back in Maryland and am missing the lobster already. They make wonderful local beer on MDI. Atlantic Brewing Company…yum! Thanks for your comment and come back soon.
The pictures are so stunning and crisp and the history and economics were an added bonus!
Thank you so much for your kind comment. I agree, that the story of these fisherman is truly important. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Sunday!
These pictures are beautiful! Thanks for this post. I think I shall have to visit Maine.
Thank you so much Michelle ! Indeed Maine is a fabulous place, and especially when you’re trying to escape the heat from the south. Come back soon and browse some other posts that I put up this week of MDI.
Beautiful photos. It really is a shame what has been happening to the lobster fishermen. I feel for them…
I do too, but they still seemed happy though and know better years are to come. Thanks for commenting and hope to see you back soon.
Hhmm, it sounds delicious. Lovely pictures too. Lobster is still a luxury where I live, which is strange as I live on a Caribbean island….
Thank so much for your kind comment. Indeed Caribbean spiny lobster is so different than Maine lobster. Perhaps one day you can get off island and enjoy the mountains and cool breezes of Maine.
Now there’s a good idea! Thanks for liking my blog
Lovely shots and well-written post. Please eat a lobster for me too. Here in Memphis, I wouldn’t recommend them. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Yes, perhaps I would think twice of lobster in Memphis. Although they may have crawfish or something like that!
Not at all the same. I’ll stick with lobster.
LOL ! Nope, I have to agree. Have a great weekend.
Great post Bella! I had no idea that lobsters laid that many eggs!
I think that’s over a lifetime, not a year. But still..WOW ! Not so with the Blue Crab on the lower eastern coast which is has diminishing returns.
Great shots and interasting look into a way of life.
Other than the $14,000, what are the average expenditures of these fishermen who may make $100,000 per annum. I can imagine costs running quite high when you consider:
Individual health and life insurance;
A boat owner paying into worker’s compensation for crewmembers;
Boat insurance;
Marina costs;
Mechanical and maintenance costs;
Equipment costs;
Equipment replacement costs;
Crew payroll;
Taxes (can’t forget those).
How much is the average net profit of $100,000?
Thank you so much for the repost on your blog. Come back and browse more of my posts of Maine.