The quiet hum of the engine was a stark contrast to the anxiety churning in Travis Dammier’s gut. Another fishing trip, another solo voyage concluded, and the haul was…disappointing. As his 36-foot boat, My Kassandra, sliced through the calm waters towards the Stonington, Maine commercial port, the veteran lobsterman felt the familiar weight of uncertainty.

There was no triumphant return this time, no celebratory air. Just the quiet, methodical task of securing his vessel at the Greenhead Lobster Co. dock. The familiar routine—the thick ropes, the two dockworkers waiting patiently—felt heavy with the unspoken reality of dwindling catches. Together, they began the somber task of transferring the live lobsters, a smaller number than usual, into large plastic containers destined for the local market.

This scene, repeated across the Maine coast, paints a picture of a struggling industry. Dammier’s experience is a microcosm of the larger concern facing Maine lobstermen: fewer lobsters are being caught, raising questions about the future of this iconic industry. The reasons are complex and will be explored in future articles, but one thing is clear: the sea is changing, and so is the life of a Maine lobsterman.