Lobster industry caught in Maine’s political headwinds before midterms
Summary
Maine’s lobster industry faces higher operating costs and uncertainty from U.S.-Canada tariff tensions, even though seafood was ultimately exempted from the tariffs described in the article. The issue has become a concern in the close U.S. Senate race between Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson, as some Maine fishing-industry workers criticize Trump’s approach to Canada.Key Facts
- Maine’s lobster fisheries brought in $461 million in 2025, according to the article.
- About 60 percent of Maine’s lobster catch is processed in Canada, often into tails, meat and bisque.
- The article says Trump imposed tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods in August, and Canada responded with tariffs before lifting levies on seafood later that month.
- Lobster fisherman David Horner supports Trump’s rollback of environmental rules but opposes his trade conflict with Canada.
- Horner has seen the cost of bait and boat diesel rise.
- Two polls cited in the article showed Jackson ahead of Collins by two to four percentage points, within the margin of error.
- Collins has voted in line with Trump’s position on 92 percent of Senate votes during his second term, which began in January 2025.
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