DONATE to support the Maine Lobstermen’s Association’s Save Maine Lobstermen campaign at savemainelobstermen.org.
LEARN about what’s going on! It’s complicated for sure but there are some good resources available including Save Maine Lobstermen, the Maine Lobstermen’s Community Alliance, or the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. If you see copies of Commercial Fisheries News, pick one up and stay up to date. (You can also subscribe to the publication!)
I love this picture of some of my favorite kids. This is from the All Hands on Deck event on Bailey Island. #SaveMaineLobstermen
ATTEND an event. Fishing families, local businesses and community members are finding opportunities to host events to raise funds and share information. Attend one, encourage others to join you, donate while you’re there, and share the information you learn.
HOST an event! What coastal community doesn’t love a good potluck or gathering? You can partner with a local restaurant or help support a local building like a grange or community hall. You can learn more about the event I hosted on Bailey Island at ALL HANDS ON DECK.
BONUS: Buy lobster. Eat lobster. As much as you can!
ENCOURAGE others like local businesses, banks, and restaurants to support the Maine lobstering industry by donating, hosting an event, or posting information.
SHARE your story. Photographers like Cheryl Clegg have been documenting the lives of fishing families and why lobster fishing is so important. Beautiful images and a few statements from the heart can make a big difference. When you post, tag the MLA (@mainelobstermen) and/or use hashtag #SaveMaineLobstermen
BONUS: You can also share stories (and learn) from people like me who are trying to shine a light on the industry and culture.
TALK to your local representatives and town staff. Most communities along Maine’s rocky coast are pretty dependent on lobsters coming over the wharves. Without them, the tourism industry, hospitality industry, and local businesses will be greatly impacted. State reps and municipalities need to step up to help protect the people in their communities and the infrastructure that they depend on.
HERE’s a list of the Maine House of Representatives and their contact information.
BONUS: If you live in a coastal community, understand that the working waterfront, and all that it entails (like lobster traps, rope, and boat engines) are part of the tradition and culture of Maine lobster families. It’s not easy right now, and having to defend traps in a dooryard and early starts contributes to stress and anxiety.
VERIFY your posts. It’s very easy to share something on social media just because it sounds right or seems OK but now is not the time to being getting others fired up over false claims or misleading stories. We don’t need bullshit because the reality that we are facing is already ridiculous, difficult, and complicated enough.
JOIN the MLA – become a member if you’re a lobsterman or local business.
SIGN UP for emails and notifications from me at aragostamama.com (scroll to the bottom of the page). I promise I won’t overload your inbox. Honestly, sharing information and writing about being a fishing family helps me process everything that’s going on. We could all use some ways to engage and process right now and perhaps this is a good place to start.
Mackerel Cove on Bailey Island wouldn’t look so significant if there weren’t any lobster boats.
