Maine Lobster Farmers Face Rising Costs Before Midterm Vote

Maine lobster fishermen are facing a sharp rise in operating costs just days before the US midterm elections.

The state’s lobster industry generated $461 million in revenue in 2025. Fishermen rely on stable fuel prices and smooth trade relations with Canada to maintain their margins.

The pressure on the sector began when global diesel prices hit record highs in September. Before the US and Israel began their war on Iran, diesel averaged $3.08 per gallon. By late summer, the price had more than doubled to $6.29 per gallon.

David Horner, a lobster fisherman who has fished off the Maine coast for fifty years, says the fuel cost is now the biggest threat to his livelihood. He notes that bait prices have also climbed alongside diesel.

Trade policy with Canada added another layer of complexity. In August, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. Canada retaliated with its own tariffs before lifting the levies on seafood later that month.

The threat of tariffs caused immediate panic in Maine because an estimated 60 percent of the state’s lobster catch is sent to Canada for processing. The catch is turned into lobster tails, meat, and bisque before some of it returns to the US for sale.

Justin Snyder, a Democratic strategist who works in the Maine lobster industry, described the reaction to the initial tariff announcement as loud screaming both literally and figuratively. He warned that the trade tensions could undermine the competitiveness of US exporters in the long term.

The industry is currently caught in the middle of a tight US Senate race between Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson. A recent CNN poll shows Jackson leading by four percentage points. A Marist poll indicates he is ahead by two points, a margin within the error range.

Collins has voted in line with Trump on 92 percent of Senate votes during his second term, which began in January 2025. However, she has broken with the president on tariffs several times. In April 2025, she voted to overturn tariffs on Canadian goods and supported a resolution to end sweeping global tariffs.

Jackson argues that Collins has not done enough to challenge the president’s trade measures. He points to the cost of foreign steel and aluminium, which are essential for manufacturing lobster traps. During a recent debate, Collins defended her efforts to secure exemptions for products like road salt. Jackson responded by saying, “We can’t eat road salt.”

On October 30, Trump removed 50 percent tariffs on some Canadian goods, including certain machinery and packaging products. This move came the day before the midterm elections. At the same time, the administration extended tariffs to other Canadian goods, including certain waste products.

Lance Dutson, a Maine Republican strategist, called the Canada tariffs the dumbest thing in the world. He noted that he did not think voters would hold the tariffs against Collins personally because she has worked to mitigate their effects. He said, “I don’t think that’s something people are going to point to Susan Collins on.”