STONINGTON, ME -- The community of Stonington is taking a step that it hopes will help assure the economic health of its valuable lobster industry.
It has arranged to have food and lobster marketing specialist Kristen Bailey of The Moseley Group spend several days in town beginning this week, talking to industry and community members in public and private meetings. An $8,500 grant from the Maine Community Foundation is making Bailey’s visit possible.
The town’s decision to seek the funding was prompted by the continuing decline in lobster prices over the past two years.
“The economic well being of our town is directly dependent on the lobster industry,” said Town Manager Kathleen Billings-Pezaris. “When we see boat prices drop as they have, the impact is felt throughout our town. We don’t think it would be responsible to simply sit back and see how it goes for another season or two.”
Bailey praised town officials for recognizing the importance of the fishery to overall economic health of the community.
"Stonington lobster is recognized by chefs and processors as a truly premium product," she said. "To see the community rally around new thinking and new ideas to increase the value of lobsters is exciting."
There is no question of the value of the lobster landings to the town. Over the last three years, Stonington’s catch has averaged 6-7 million pounds a year, with a dockside value of about $24 million. In 2009, Stonington, together with neighboring island town Deer Isle, landed 9.3 million pounds worth $26.3 million dockside.
There is also no question that the Maine lobster industry faces tremendous pressure in today's highly competitive worldwide marketplace, challenges that play out in Stonington, along with every other fishing town along the coast.
According to preliminary data provided by the state’s Department of Marine Resources, 75.6 million pounds of lobsters were landed statewide in 2009, over 5.7 million pounds more than the 2008 catch of 69.9 million pounds. But the 2009 value of $221.7 million was down over $23 million from 2008, when the catch was worth $244.9 million.
The economic reality takes a human face when you look at the statewide average price pre pound for lobsters paid to the boat. In 2009, it was $2.93, the lowest average price in over a decade, and down significantly compared to recent years in which the price averaged well over $4 a pound.
The state responded to this alarming trend in 2009, when The Moseley Group was hired by the Governor's Task Force on the Economic Sustainability of Maine's Lobster Industry to conduct a diagnostic analysis of the industry and develop a strategic plan for moving toward enhanced profitability.
Bailey, a Moseley Group vice president who lives in South Freeport, ME, was the principal investigator for the task force project. By bringing her to town, Stonington will leverage the $150,000 worth of work she did for the state, presenting the parts of the findings that are relevant to the town’s industry and its future.
“We see this as a chance to gain a realistic and common understanding of the opportunities possible with our substantial and sustainable lobster resource,” Billings-Pezaris said.
The Stonington Lobster Working Group, a subcommittee of the town’s Economic Development Committee, will coordinate Bailey’s visit. The schedule will include a public meeting as well as opportunities for buyers and fishermen to talk privately with Bailey.
For more information, contact Billings-Pezaris at (207) 367-2351.
It has arranged to have food and lobster marketing specialist Kristen Bailey of The Moseley Group spend several days in town beginning this week, talking to industry and community members in public and private meetings. An $8,500 grant from the Maine Community Foundation is making Bailey’s visit possible.
The town’s decision to seek the funding was prompted by the continuing decline in lobster prices over the past two years.
“The economic well being of our town is directly dependent on the lobster industry,” said Town Manager Kathleen Billings-Pezaris. “When we see boat prices drop as they have, the impact is felt throughout our town. We don’t think it would be responsible to simply sit back and see how it goes for another season or two.”
Bailey praised town officials for recognizing the importance of the fishery to overall economic health of the community.
"Stonington lobster is recognized by chefs and processors as a truly premium product," she said. "To see the community rally around new thinking and new ideas to increase the value of lobsters is exciting."
There is no question of the value of the lobster landings to the town. Over the last three years, Stonington’s catch has averaged 6-7 million pounds a year, with a dockside value of about $24 million. In 2009, Stonington, together with neighboring island town Deer Isle, landed 9.3 million pounds worth $26.3 million dockside.
There is also no question that the Maine lobster industry faces tremendous pressure in today's highly competitive worldwide marketplace, challenges that play out in Stonington, along with every other fishing town along the coast.
According to preliminary data provided by the state’s Department of Marine Resources, 75.6 million pounds of lobsters were landed statewide in 2009, over 5.7 million pounds more than the 2008 catch of 69.9 million pounds. But the 2009 value of $221.7 million was down over $23 million from 2008, when the catch was worth $244.9 million.
The economic reality takes a human face when you look at the statewide average price pre pound for lobsters paid to the boat. In 2009, it was $2.93, the lowest average price in over a decade, and down significantly compared to recent years in which the price averaged well over $4 a pound.
The state responded to this alarming trend in 2009, when The Moseley Group was hired by the Governor's Task Force on the Economic Sustainability of Maine's Lobster Industry to conduct a diagnostic analysis of the industry and develop a strategic plan for moving toward enhanced profitability.
Bailey, a Moseley Group vice president who lives in South Freeport, ME, was the principal investigator for the task force project. By bringing her to town, Stonington will leverage the $150,000 worth of work she did for the state, presenting the parts of the findings that are relevant to the town’s industry and its future.
“We see this as a chance to gain a realistic and common understanding of the opportunities possible with our substantial and sustainable lobster resource,” Billings-Pezaris said.
The Stonington Lobster Working Group, a subcommittee of the town’s Economic Development Committee, will coordinate Bailey’s visit. The schedule will include a public meeting as well as opportunities for buyers and fishermen to talk privately with Bailey.
For more information, contact Billings-Pezaris at (207) 367-2351.