joeydokes t1_isffn94 wrote on October 15, 2022 at 3:53 PM

Reply to comment by OniExpress in Alaska's cancellation of the snow crab season offers a grave, potential prediction for Maine's lobster industry. by combatbydesign

Most of the kids in these small fishing communities only graduated high school by the skin of their teeth. Their future is in the trades, but there wouldn't be enough jobs to accommodate them.

My understanding is that it takes a minimum of 300 traps to break even; most working boats have 4 to 500 traps and are still in the red. The waiting list for a license (and 300 traps) is 8 years. So if you start your kid off at age 8 with a permit, by 16 years old they can become a working lobsterman.

A better education is the only way out, while most natives to the area are functionally illiterate.

gulfofmainah t1_isga58f wrote on October 15, 2022 at 7:28 PM

I’m a full time lobsterman with a college education half the fisherman I know have some college or a full degree, you’re making broad blanket statements here. I know plenty of carpenters, caretakers and workers in other Maine industries who are drop outs so what’s your point?

joeydokes t1_isk3b3b wrote on October 16, 2022 at 4:13 PM

You're correct that I'm over-generalizing and my apologies. My impression, spending far too many hours in harbors talking with lobstermen left me with a different impression. Yes, many are educated and well-spoke; but many/most stated they weren't cut out for classrooms and barely eeked out H.S.

I'm not saying anyone needs college , I was saying that the trades you mentioned are perfectly fine; my point being that I didn't think any given area could handle that many tradesmen w/out other economic improvements just to be able to hire them and keep them in their trade.