MISSION STATEMENT: The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association is a member-driven organization that accepts and supports the interdependence of species conservation and the members’ collective economic interests.
The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association was established in 1963 by the fishermen, for the fishermen, and is presently one of the leading commercial fishing industry associations in New England. On behalf of the 1,800 members, the MLA works to maintain both the industry and the resource. The MLA strives to be proactive on issues affecting the lobster industry and is active in the management process at both the state and federal levels. The MLA communicates with its members through a monthly newspaper, weekly email, social media, and attendance at industry meetings. For the past 61 years, the MLA has become a trustworthy voice for the industry on important issues, and is looked to by both the fishing industry and the management community.
Fellow Fisherman,
I know that when you decided to go lobster fishing you probably never considered that along with the problems of boats, traps, bait, price, weather and just trying to catch the little critters, that you’d also have to be concerned with insurance, federal and state regulatory actions, pollution, public relations, marketing, the economy, international developments, USGC safety requirements and any other issues which sometimes seem so far removed from a life at sea. I know I never thought it would be this complicated, but here we are and yes it is.
Besides being a fisherman, a lobsterman is also a businessman trying to earn a living. Many people ashore just don’t understand all that is involved with “going fishing” as a livelihood. On the other hand the lobsterman/businessman can no longer just leave the dock, sail out and peacefully hide from the world on some loran number line or around the leeward side of an island and hope to continue successfully his way of life.
Since its beginnings, the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association Inc. has always worked to help this states lobstermen meet the challenges they face. It has worked to conserve the resource on which the lobstermen depend. Today, it is the major voice of the Massachusetts lobster industry. Given today’s world, the lobster fisherman needs this shoreside support, this shield, this voice or in some cases, this vanguard to protect his flank or rear or to spearhead his goals as he does “his thing” which is, to go fishing.
If you are a commercial lobster fisherman or even just a supporter of the cause, shouldn’t you be a member of the MLA? As a businessman in the dead serious game of earning a living, I would think that membership in the MLA would be a must. Think about it.
Be in the mainstream of the lobster industry while you do what you really want to do ~ go fishing.
Arthur “Sooky” Sawyer
MLA, President