About The Governor's Working Group

 

The Governor's Working Group on Maine Lobster Sustainability was appointed by Governor John E. Baldacci as an informal working group to explore certification of the Maine lobster industry as a sustainable fishery by the national Marine Stewardship Council (MCS), an independent nonprofit organization that promotes responsible fishing practices.

A growing number of major food retailers, including Wal-Mart, Whole Foods, Target and Cosco, will only carry seafood that carries the sustainable certification by the Marine Stewardship Council. And seafood industries – including Western Australia Rock Lobster, Alaskan salmon and Oregon shrimp – have already achieved sustainable certification.

Building on a pre-assessment of the industry by Moody Marine, the working group will develop a plan, encourage voluntary participation from the lobster industry and seek funds from private businesses to cover the cost of the eight-month process of analysis and third-party endorsement of the lobster industry’s sustainable practices. Once completed, the industry can apply for certification through the MSC, 

The Marine Stewardship Council is an international nonprofit organization that was created in 1997 to promote solutions to the problem of overfishing and its impacts on the world’s oceans. The MSC runs an internationally recognized environmental certification and eco-labeling program for sustainability in wild capture fisheries.

Members of the Working Group are:

John Hathaway, president of Shucks Maine Lobster, Richmond, chair

Linda Bean, Port Clyde Lobster

George LaPointe, Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources

John Ready, Ready Seafood/Catch a Piece of Maine, Portland

Elliot Thomas, Yarmouth, lobsterman and member of the Maine Lobster Advisory Council

David Cousens, Spruce Head, president of the Maine Lobstermen's Association 

Norbert Lemieux of Cutler, lobstermen, board member of Downeast Lobstermen's Assocation

Mike Cote, owner of Looks Gourmet Food Company, Whiting