2025 Maine Commercial Fisheries Value Again Tops $600 Million

Augusta – According to preliminary data released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), Maine’s commercial harvesters earned $619,053,489 in 2025, which was the 14^th consecutive year commercial fishery earnings surpassed $500 million.

“Once again, Maine fishermen and sea farmers in 2025 delivered premium products sought by consumers around the world who value nutritious, sustainably harvested seafood,” said Maine Governor Janet Mills. “Through their hard work and dedication, Maine’s fishermen and aquaculturists are providing a strong foundation for our economy and preserving Maine’s heritage for generations to come.”

Maine lobster harvesters landed 78.8 million pounds in 2025 and again topped all other fisheries with an overall landed value of $461,384,405 on the strength of a $5.85 per pound boat price, which is the third highest boat price on record.

However, while the boat price and overall value for lobster remained relatively high, buoyed by strong consumer demand, inflation took its toll on the industry. “When adjusting for inflation, the overall value of lobster in 2025 was more in line with the value earned in 2008,” said DMR Commissioner Carl Wilson.

“The impact of inflation on fishermen in 2025 not only challenged their bottom line, but when combined with market uncertainty due to tariffs, and a late molt that limited access by the summer fishery to new shell lobsters, it may have

caused many to change fishing behavior, including limiting trips,” said Commissioner Wilson. In fact, according to DMR’s landings program, Maine lobster harvesters took over 21,000 fewer fishing trips in 2025 than in 2024, a nearly ten percent decline in fishing effort. “This combination of factors likely contributed to the decline from 2024 to 2025 in the lobster harvest of more than eight million pounds and a decrease in the overall value of more than $75 million.”

Maine’s softshell clam fishery was again the state’s second most valuable in 2025 with an overall value of $21,591,878, a jump of nearly $6 million over 2024. Maine clammers increased their harvest over 2024 by 441,578 pounds and saw an increase in price at the dock from $2.72 per pound in 2024 to $3.49 per pound in 2025.

Atlantic Menhaden, a favorite bait for Maine lobster harvesters, was the third most valuable fishery in Maine in 2025, earning fishermen $18,962,057, an increase of more than $5 million over 2024. Landings in the fishery jumped from 26,735,331 pounds in 2024 to 31,394,325 pounds in 2025.   

Maine oyster harvesters and growers continue to see increasing demand for their product, which was the fourth most valuable in 2025, at $16,179,031. “The reputation for Maine oysters continues to grow as consumers prize their clean, briny, sweet flavor which comes from the cold clean, nutrient rich waters along our coast,” said Commissioner Wilson.

Maine scallops were the fifth most valuable commercially harvested species in 2025, earning both fishermen and aquaculturists $9,344,477. “Maine scallops continue to provide a vital winter fishery for harvesters, an emerging opportunity for aquaculturists, and a delicacy for consumers,” said Commissioner Wilson.

Elver fishmen harvested 7,797 pounds of baby eels in 2025 and earned $6.9 million, placing the fishery as the sixth most valuable.

More information on 2025 landings, including the value of each fishery adjusted for inflation, can be found on the DMR website.