Lobster Prices: Maine needs to be in the driver's seat

Lobster prices have dropped in recent days, exasperating lobstermen who face high bait and fuel costs, but probably pleasing many consumers - if they find places where the cheaper wholesale prices are being passed along, that is.

Some folks may use the logic that summer should find prices higher because, while landings are certainly greater than in the winter months, so is the demand, because of tourism.

However, figures thrown around last week, when lobstermen in some coastal communities along the coast tied up to protest the prices they were being paid at the dock - as low as $3.50 and $3.60 in some places - should serve as a real eye-opener as to what, or who, really sets the price paid to lobstermen. A TV news story indicated that processors buy 70 percent of Maine's lobster landings and, with only a very small exception, the processing plants are in Canada. They can pretty much dictate the price.

Maine lands the lobster, sells it to the processors in Canada, and then it comes back across the border, to be sold at a substantial profit. We knew much of the processing was taking place in Canada, but 70 percent of our product going across the border to provide jobs which should be right here at home? Not good.

The state has been looking for ways to improve its business climate, create jobs, and help enterprising new companies get a head start. We suggest our economic development gurus begin looking for ways to encourage lobster processing plants right here in our own state.

Decades ago, the Boothbay Region had its own canneries and processing plants, but they disappeared years ago, not only from here, but from other coastal communities. One of the saddest stories in recent Maine history is the demise of the sardine industry that supported processing plants all along the coast employing literally hundreds of workers. They're gone - once-famous Maine brand sardines, the jobs, the sardine carriers, everything.

Perhaps an effort will get underway to encourage lobster processing plants here in Maine, and we can see the profits stay here at home. It would make good economic sense.