Maine lobstermen have been increasing their fishing take for years now, reaching a new record in 2010. However, as with all commodities, there is a fine balance to be found between increasing volumes and price. The high prices per pound earned during the 2003 through 2007 period came down sharply in 2008 and 2009 when the price per pound hit a decade low of $2.93. In 2010 that price rose again, to $3.31, bringing it back to the level seen in 2000.

Geographic reference: State of Maine
Year: 2000 and 2010 (preliminary data)
Market size: 57.22 million pounds valued at $187.7 million and 93.36 million pounds valued at $308.7 million respectively.
Source: “Historical Maine Lobster Landings,” a report available online here.
Original source: Maine Department of Marine Resources.