Lobstermen fear market trends will continue

State officials and lobstermen meeting yesterday to discuss trends in the lobster industry reached a troubling conclusion: The convergence of warmer water conditions in the Gulf of Maine, earlier molts for lobsters and the resulting soft-shell prices of below $2 per pound are likely to be long-term problems.
Stakeholders agree if those trends continue, many of Maine's 5,000 licensed commercial lobstermen – as well as the associated dealers, ...