NEFSA Vice President John Drouin
The New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association strongly condemns the unprecedented enforcement action taken by the Maine Department of Labor against longtime lobsterman Billy Bob Faulkingham.
This case represents more than a regulatory dispute. It signals a fundamental misunderstanding of how Maine’s commercial fishing industry operates and how its traditions are sustained.
“This decision sends a clear and troubling message to fishermen across Maine,” said NEFSA Vice President John Drouin, a lobsterman from Cutler. “My sons grew up on the lobster boat as children, learning by doing and serving as apprentices to my work, just like countless other kids along the coast. That is not exploitation. That is how this industry survives.”
For generations, lobstering has been built on family, mentorship, and hands-on learning. These are not incidental aspects of the trade. They are its foundation. Treating these practices as violations threatens to dismantle the very pipeline that keeps this industry alive.
“Lobstering is not just a job. It is a way of life,” Drouin continued. “If the state begins penalizing fishermen for passing down their livelihood to children, it will have lasting consequences for the future of this fishery.”
NEFSA is deeply concerned that this action sets a dangerous precedent. At a time when the industry is already facing mounting regulatory pressure and workforce challenges, this type of enforcement risks discouraging the next generation from entering the fishery altogether.
We urge the Maine Department of Labor to reconsider both the impact and the precedent of its actions against Billy Bob Faulkingham, a lifelong lobsterman. The consequences of this decision will extend far beyond a single case and could cause lasting damage to the traditions and heritage that define Maine’s commercial fishing industry.
NEFSA stands firmly with Maine’s fishermen and calls for a practical, informed approach that respects both the law and the realities of working waterfront communities.
