AUGUSTA, Maine — A legislative committee is supporting a bill that aims to boost Maine’s troubled lobster industry by pumping more money into marketing the state’s signature seafood.
The Marine Resources Committee voted unanimously Monday in support of a proposal calling for sharply increased surcharges on lobster fishing, dealer and processor licenses, with the goal of raising about $3 million a year in promotional funding. This year’s marketing budget is about $380,000.
The committee also supported an amendment to the original bill that cuts lobstermen’s share of the funding from 75 percent to 50 percent, with dealers, processors and lobster transporters shouldering the other 50 percent.
Supporters say the industry needs a boost following last year’s record harvest and low prices. Lobstermen last year caught 123 million pounds, but they received only $2.68 a pound on average, the lowest price since 1994.
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