"We" the Lobster Industry

Workers ashore found out a long time ago that through unions they could achieve that which was unattainable as single voices in their workplace. The fishing industry on the whole has yet to realize the strength they too could have if they were ever able to unite.

During the nineties, the lobster industry here in New England has proven that being united on an issue does work.  The long series of events in the lobster management arena, as an example, has shown that government fishery managers are not able to just dictate policy and provisions to this industry.  It was found that more headway could be made by letting industry in on the management process and although the progress may seen painfully slow at times, managers have also found that it's better to move slowly with industry than having that industry grind the process to a complete halt.  A united lobster industry has proven that it is able to do this if necessary.  Looking over the fence at the other fishing industry sectors one can see what can happen if there is no unified response.  Another example of how unity works has been the whale saga where government, prodded on by some radical environmental elements, pushed too hard on the lobster industry and ended up being pushed right back.  There are other examples but the bottom line is that when a united lobster industry speaks, it is heard and pans rattle, pens write, and "high up" people listen.

It must be expected that other such challenges will be facing the lobster industry in the coming years.  Certainly the management efforts will be major ones.  They are not going to go away and a united lobster industry will be needed to work on these as well as other challenges which will come our way.

The lobster fishery is diverse, made up as we know of sectors within itself.  Here in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association has become the voice for this states' "lobster" people.  We also happen to have many out of state members and we're glad to have them.  Many of the issues covered affect all lobster people and - here is that unity thing again - together we can face these issues or threats that will affect us all and be able to make a difference.
Sure we have our differences, and we always will.  No one is advocating that we all must agree all the time.  Unity comes about when we realize that to protect our own way of life we must stand together as an industry when we face outside forces that, regardless of what may be good intentions, could cause unnecessary hardship for "our own"!  Likewise, we can use our unity to achieve the goals that we have determined are beneficial to the resource we use and the lifestyle we hold dear.

It is also important to realize that we need not be radical or unreasonable as a unified industry.  As a matter of fact, it's better if we're not.  We must be willing to listen just as we expect others to listen to us.  We can then accept, reject, or even modify what is presented and be assured that we, the Lobster Industry, will be respected as a reasonable, responsible, and formidable force by those outside this industry.

Cloaked in a force field of unity, each one of use will stand a much better chance of surviving any ill winds that may blow and we will be much more likely to retain our own individuality as well as our occupation as a lobster fisherman.

United we stand --- divided --- ?

Bill Adler
Executive Director

8/99