Senator Susan Collins is a strong advocate for Maine’s lobstermen and women, securing tens of millions of dollars in federal funding to support the industry and fighting against overly burdensome regulations.
She secured a six-year pause on new NOAA regulations affecting the American Lobster Fishery, to provide more time for additional research and data collection on the North Atlantic Right Whale. Without that pause, Maine’s iconic lobster industry could have faced a complete shutdown, sending devastating ripple effects through Maine’s economy. Senator Collins has also delivered more than $80 million for research and monitoring to ensure future decisions are informed by reliable data, rigorous science, and a clear understanding of the realities facing Maine’s lobster industry.
To help preserve Maine’s fishing heritage, Senator Collins has focused on creating opportunities for the next generation of lobstermen and women. She has supported efforts to expand workforce training, strengthen mentorship opportunities, and improve access to capital so young fishermen can enter and remain in the industry. She was also a strong advocate for the creation of the USDA Office of Seafood, the first office of its kind dedicated to addressing the unique challenges facing America’s seafood industry and strengthening opportunities for Maine’s fishing communities.
Senator Collins has also fought to protect lobstermen and women from the harmful effects of international trade disputes. Her direct engagement with the Administration helped secure $36 million in tariff relief for Maine’s lobster industry through the Seafood Trade Relief Program, which helped offset losses caused by Chinese retaliatory tariffs on American lobster. In addition, she has delivered more than $16 million since 2018 to support critical American lobster research, helping sustain one of Maine’s most iconic industries for generations to come.
Senator Collins opposes emergency tariffs and border closures that threaten the Maine lobster industry, which relies heavily on Canadian facilities for processing. She has urged the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to ensure that cross-border lobster processing remains exempt from trade restrictions. She has also repeatedly advocated for lobstermen who face increased burdens because of the tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, which drive up the costs of gear and traps.
FAQs
Senator Collins opposes burdensome NOAA regulations that place unnecessary burdens on Maine lobstermen and women and make an already demanding profession even more difficult. She led the Maine congressional delegation’s efforts to protect the lobster industry from unfair federal regulations by securing a six-year pause on NOAA’s new North Atlantic Right Whale rules. Without that pause, Maine’s iconic lobster industry could have faced a complete shutdown, sending devastating ripple effects through Maine’s economy. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has also secured more than $80 million for North Atlantic Right Whale research and monitoring to ensure that any future regulatory decisions are based on sound science, accurate data, and a fair assessment of the consequences for Maine’s lobster industry.
Yes. Senator Collins is a champion for Maine’s seafood and fishing industries and has consistently fought to support the people and communities that depend on them. After the devastating winter storms of January 2024 damaged Maine’s coastline and working waterfronts, she secured $15 million to help repair critical infrastructure and establish a new Economic Development Administration program dedicated to supporting working waterfronts.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Collins helped provide direct relief for Maine’s seafood industry through the CARES Act, which provided $20 million to support those throughout the seafood supply chain. She has also championed the creation of the USDA Office of Seafood, a first-of-its-kind office dedicated to advancing the interests of America’s seafood producers and strengthening the long-term success of Maine’s fishing industry.
Senator Collins has a strong record of supporting Maine’s fisheries and the coastal communities that depend on them. When funding for Maine Sea Grant was threatened in 2025, she took immediate action to help restore it and protect the valuable research, education, and economic development programs it provides.
Senator Collins is the co-author of the Working Waterfronts Act and a cosponsor of the American Seafood Competitiveness Act. These bipartisan bills would strengthen Maine’s working waterfronts, expand opportunities for the fishing industry, and improve access to USDA programs and resources that fishermen have historically been unable to fully utilize.