Preliminary figures released Tuesday by state officials indicate that the amount of lobster caught in Maine in 2007 fell by nearly 23 percent from the previous year.

Just 56 million pounds of lobster with a total value of $248.5 million were brought ashore in Maine last year, according to Maine Department of Marine Resources estimates. In 2006, 72 million pounds of lobster worth nearly $300 million were caught in Maine.

The decrease of 16.6 million pounds represents nearly a 23 percent decline in landings. The $48.5 million loss in value represents a 16 percent decrease in industry revenue.

The estimated average price per pound increased in 2007, however. The average statewide price in 2006 was $4.08 per pound, but last year it rose approximately 8.5 percent to $4.43 per pound.

The numbers released Tuesday are preliminary. The totals are expected to change over the coming months as DMR receives more data about 2007 transactions from lobster dealers.

The sharpest decline was in Hancock County, where an estimated 14.3 million pounds of lobster worth $65.26 million was caught last year. Having landed 20.8 million pounds in 2006, Hancock County’s 6.5 million fewer pounds caught last year represent a 31 percent drop in landings. The $18.5 million decrease, from $83.69 million in 2006 to $65.26 million in 2007, represents a 22 percent drop in value.

Knox County remained the most productive county, though it also had sharp declines. Its volume of landings dropped 21 percent, from 22 million pounds to 17.3 million pounds, while the value of its catch declined 17 percent, from nearly $91 million to more than $75 million.

State and industry officials noted last fall that catches seemed to be lower than the previous year.

Catch totals have steadily increased since 1990, but there have been fluctuations from year to year. State and industry officials have said fluctuations are considered normal and that a year or two of declines does not necessarily mean the fishery is in trouble.

“We expected it,” George Lapointe, commissioner of DMR, said Tuesday of the preliminary 2007 estimates. “We don’t like it.”

The 72.6 million pounds caught in Maine in 2006 was the highest landings total in state history, but the highest total value was in 2005, when Maine’s lobster catch was worth $318 million.

The state represents 80 percent of the country’s East Coast lobster fishery.

btrotter@bangordailynews.net

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