Maine lobster population faces decline as baby lobster numbers drop

A University of Maine study has identified a significant decline in baby lobsters, serving as an early warning for the state’s Midcoast lobster population. Researchers found an 80% decrease in baby lobsters sampled between 2010 and 2022, which preceded a 70% drop in young lobsters since 2015 and a 50% reduction in harvestable adults.

The most pronounced declines occurred in the Gulf of Maine’s midcoast region, spanning from Brunswick to the Schoodic Peninsula. This trend follows a period of population growth during the 2000s and early 2010s. The findings, published in Marine Ecology Progress Series, highlight the necessity of monitoring early life stages to predict future impacts on the commercial fishery, which accounted for over $461 million in Maine landings in 2025.