The Lobsterwomen of Maine: Bold, Skilled, and Changing the Tide
Mark MurrellThe image of a lobsterman hauling traps at dawn has long characterized the Maine coast for many generations. But what is happening today is that a new image is emerging. More and more women are making space for themselves on the water. The number of lobster women in Maine is increasing, and with it their influence and ability to transform the traditionally male-dominated lobster industry.
Approximately 15% of total lobster licenses in Maine are held by women as of 2021. Ten years ago, that number was less than 5% according to the Department of Marine Resources. This is not a passing trend; this is a real shift. Women are captaining boats, managing multi-generational fishing operations, and paving the way for the next generation of leaders.
Strength at Sea: The Reality of Being a Lobsterwoman in Maine
Lobster fishing is not for the weak-minded. You’re up before the sun. Each trap can weigh over 40 pounds. The ocean is constantly unpredictable, and you end up never stopping. For Maine's lobster women, this is just another job - and joy.
Sadie Samuels has her own boat, called Must Be Nice, out of Belfast, Maine. She has been lobster fishing since she was seven. Now, by herself, she will haul hundreds of traps. "You have to be strong," she said, "You have to be tough, and that’s what he taught me to be."
Women in the lobster industry work in any kind of weather, repair gear, related pricing, and quotas, as well as much more. Of course, they perform not just physical endurance, but they are also owners of businesses, caretakers of the environment, and participants in Maine's coastal economy. They serve daily as a testament that resilience, precision, and strength are not gender specific attributes.
Breaking Barriers in a Traditionally Male Trade
For generations, Maine's lobster industry was viewed as a man's world. That is steadily changing from the insistence of women who refused to wait for any permission to enter. Lobster women have endured skepticism, gear made for larger bodies, and restrictions of society in general, to find a place on deck.
Generational change helps to accelerate the transition. The daughter of a lobsterman is inheriting a license, she is learning the trade early, and establishing a new type of fishing legacy. Mentor and training opportunities are increasing participation and visibility, which is becoming successful with organizations like the Maine Lobstering Community Alliance has been actively providing connections to the community, outreach, education, and advocacy for female harvesters.
Perceptions are changing, too. Where once there was an 'arm's length' distancing between men and women in the industry, there is now respect, acknowledgment, and recognition of female captains featured in documentaries, national media, and even embraced in local communities. All of those stories depict how gender diversity is a way to fortify the industry, not only socially, but from an economic point of view.
How Get Maine Lobster Supports the Women Behind the Catch
At Get Maine Lobster, we think every customer should know how their meal came to be what it is. That's why we proudly source solely based on small independent harvesters, including Maine's amazing lobsterwomen.
Additionally, we also partner with women-run boats and crews, which makes an important statement about women who represent the future of seafood. We respect and recognize their work through storytelling, interviews, and reviewing the content we feature on our blog & social media platforms. Transparency is not a trend to us; it’s what we do. It’s how we honor the hands that haul every trap.
From sourcing practices to packing and shipping, we are proud to exist in the intersection of systemic barriers, supporting underrepresented voices. Supporting lobster women fits squarely into our commitment to sustainability, building community, and promoting equity.
When you choose to order from Get Maine Lobster, you are choosing to support people who care deeply about the sea (our lovely ocean) and, unequivocally, on a daily basis, demonstrate that skill knows no gender.
Check out our values and sourcing stories.
Why Their Stories Matter And How You Can Help
Lobster women are doing more than catching seafood. They are rewriting a story around what leadership can look like in the coastal communities of Maine. And their stories are important because they carry resilience, adaptability, and strength, traits that represent both tradition and progress.
Standing with these women means ordering directly from sources that support small-scale, independent enterprises. It means a commitment to sharing their stories, tracking their journeys, and advocating for equal access to opportunity across all sectors. It means seeing the value in a product and in the process.
At Get Maine Lobster, we invite you to celebrate every order, knowing the hands behind that haul might describe themselves as a woman in this line of work. As consumers, we are powerful. By supporting lobster women, we contribute to making their work visible, valued, and supported.
Shop responsibly caught Maine lobster and support a future for this industry.
Changing the Tide, One Trap at a Time
The lobster women of Maine are doing more than revolutionizing the industry; they are actually changing people's perspectives, embarking on new legacies, and proving that skill and will are the true currency of coastal life. Their boats carry more than traps; they are bringing the legacy of all those who went before them, the promise of equity, and the push for change.
We celebrate and honor these courageous women not because they serve as unique role models; they serve as remarkable examples. When we support them, we are supporting better communities, and they share responsibility for creating a sustainable seafood future with the local coastal community that depends on the sea.
