June 1, 2026 — Higher diesel fuel prices are worrying lobster fishermen in Maine, just as the summer fishing season is beginning to ramp up.
“It’s going to be more expensive for them to fish if this continues,” said Marianne LaCroix, executive director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative.
National data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows the on-highway diesel fuel price on May 25 was $5.52 a gallon. That’s up more than $2 a gallon compared to the same time a year ago.
In New England, the data shows the price on May 25 was $5.80 a gallon, up almost $2 versus a year ago.
“Diesel fuel is one of the big expenses for fishing,” LaCroix said. “Higher fuel costs just makes it more expensive for them to fish.”
Right now, there are about 5,000 lobster fishermen operating off the coast of Maine, and the busy season starts in June.