Glut Of Lobster Brings Price To A 20-Year Low In Maine

Global warming and other factors are causing an oversupply of lobsters in Maine.

Canada, which is the largest importer of Maine lobster meat, experienced an early season and its own glut of lobsters due to warming waters.

Maine lobstermen have seen an 80 percent increase in their own bounty over the past few years.

The result is that prices have dropped to about half since 2007, says eighth generation lobsterman Jason Joyce of Swan's Island Maine.

This year, Maine state legislators passed a bill allowing the industry to tax itself so it can market its overabundance of lobster.

The industry has raised 2.5 million dollars.

"The money will be used to market the Maine lobster brand," Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen's Association, told Here & Now.

The industry will also brand new food products containing Maine lobster because "Lobster is becoming an ingredient," McCarron said.