Stonington tops state in lobster earnings with $49M catch

But inflation, tariffs and a late molt appear to have affected the number of lobster fishing trips statewide, DMR says

Lobster still rules the sea harvest in Maine—and Stonington rules the lobster earnings, according to state data. Photo by Unsplash.

March 9, 2026

By staff

STONINGTON–Stonington cemented its ranking yet again as Maine’s top lobster port by earnings in new data released by the state’s Department of Marine Resources, although the numbers show the industry hit the doldrums when adjusted for inflation.

While lobster values remained high for landings in Stonington, the port fell behind Portland in terms of actual pounds of lobsters harvested. Portland topped that list, with over 13.3 million pounds of the crustacean, compared to Stonington’s 11.2 million pounds, according to preliminary data released by DMR.

Maine’s top 10 lobster ports earned $215 million in 2025 “ex-vessel,” or landings, value. Stonington landings earned $49 million, or just over 22 percent of that list in terms of value.

In the total value of Maine’s sea catch of $619 million–which includes everything from lobsters to menhaden to elvers to oysters and more–the state’s fisheries surpassed a half a billion in harvest value for the 14th year in a row.

“Once again, Maine fishermen and sea farmers in 2025 delivered premium products sought by consumers around the world who value nutritious, sustainably harvested seafood,” Gov. Janet Mills said. “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.”

Top 10 ports by lobster values, according to state data.

In terms of total catch size, Maine lobstermen landed 78.8 million pounds statewide in 2025 and again topped all other fisheries with an overall landed value of $461 million on the strength of a $5.85 per pound boat price—the third highest boat price on record, DMR said.

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, DMR said.

“When adjusting for inflation, the overall value of lobster in 2025 was more in line with the value earned in 2008,” DMR Commissioner Carl Wilson said.

“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,” Wilson said.

DMR noted Maine lobstermen took about 21,000 fewer fishing trips in 2025 than in 2024, a nearly 10 percent decline.

Pound for pound, Portland landed more lobsters than anywhere else in the state, according to state data.

“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,” Wilson said.

Maine’s softshell clam fishery was again the state’s second most valuable in 2025 with an overall value of $21.6 million, 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 almost $19 million, an increase of more than $5 million over 2024. Landings in the fishery jumped from 26.7 million pounds in 2024 to 31.4 million pounds in 2025.   

Oysters were the state’s fourth most valuable harvest in 2025, with a value of $16.2 million.

“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,” Wilson said.

Maine scallops were the fifth most valuable commercially harvested species in 2025, earning divers, draggers and aquaculture operations $9.3 million.

“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. That represents a steep drop from a $20 million harvest in 2022, $19.5 million in 2023, and $12 million in 2024.

Lobster remains the biggest share of the seafood pie in Maine, according to state data.