March 6, 2015 — For the third straight year, Maine’s commercially harvested marine resources increased in overall value and generated more than one-half billion dollars for the state’s economy, according to preliminary data released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources March 5.
The total value of Maine’s commercial marine resources landed in 2014 jumped by more than $44 million over 2013 and reached an all-time high of $585,348,370, the release said.
The overall rise in value can be attributed largely to an $86 million increase in the value of lobster and an additional $1.8 million in the value of scallops balanced by a decline in value for four species, most notably Maine’s elver fishery.
Lobsters continue to be Maine’s most commercially valuable fishery on the strength of historic landings and rebounded value, said the DMR.
For the third straight year and only the third time ever, Maine lobster harvesters landed more than 120 million pounds. The fishery increased in value over 2013 to record high of $456,935,346.