WELCOME TO MAINE LOBSTER RESCUE: We prefer to see lobsters living freely in the ocean, rather than boiling in kitchen pots. We intend to end lobster fishing by implementing short term and long term goals. In the short term we plan to rescue, rehabilitate, and release lobsters. In the long term we plan to completely eliminate lobster consumption and help lobstermen find alternative jobs. Our relentless grassroots movement will be heard!

NEWS:


MLR's FIRST EUROPEAN MEMBER, LETTER FROM BETH, JANUARY 18, 2009

Dear Maine Lobster Rescue,

Can I please firstly congratulate you on the wonderful work that you are doing. I am a great fan of the lobsters and was delighted to find this website.

Please add me to the list on your website of people who vow never to consume lobster, ever.

Best Wishes,

Beth Walker
England

LETTER FROM LAURA IN NEW YORK, JANUARY 16, 2009

Hello, first I must say that I am quite pleased that there are similar minded people that are against the consumption of lobster. When I was a small child I used to race to the lobster tank at my local grocery store and "talk" with the lobsters. My mother wanted to protect me from the knowledge of why they were truly there, and told me they were waiting to be adopted as pets. I wanted one for my own, but was turned down by my mother. After I learned about the cruel nature of their deaths I wanted to make a difference for even just a few lobsters. I am willing to go to my grocery store and purchase a few lobsters to be released. I live in Syracuse NY. Please tell me how I can accomplish this, as I am currently unable to go to the Atlantic coastline. All of the lobsters brought in come from the Atlantic Ocean according to the grocery store I frequent. Thank you in advance!

P.S. I never have and never will eat lobster!

Laura L.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM MAINE LOBSTER RESCUE!



LETTER FROM CHANTEL IN NEW JERSEY, NOVEMBER 2, 2009

I was at the restaurant tonight and they had 2 lobsters left in a tank. I really felt bad for them. I really wanted to rescue them but I do not live anywhere near the shore (I'm in northern NJ).
I saw you website and how you rescued lobsters in the past. If I would go back and buy them, could I ship them to you so you can release them? If not, what should I do? My husband said it would be silly to rescue them since the restaurant would just get more lobsters the very next day. Thanks for your help.

Chantal
Randolph, NJ

LETTER FROM RJ IN CONNECTICUT, AUGUST 14, 2009:

Hello there,

I happened upon your website quite by chance, and found it profoundly interesting. I can not begin to imagine the amount of "hate mail" you must receive, being headquartered deep in the heart of "lobster central", Maine! Hahahaaha..

The deal is, that I've been involved with lobsters, in just about every capacity since birth.

From SCUBA diver, underwater reef surveys, chef, retail, to topwater lobster trapper. I've seen lobsters for 50 years; where they live, and know what they like, what they dislike, and what kills them. I saw the 1999 Long Island Sound lobster "die-off" upclose and personal. It was clearly a mass-extinction "event". I've been watching the current outbreak of epizootic shell-desease slowly making it's way north to your area.

Over the last years I've maintained and observed several specimens (Homarus americanus) in large saltwater aquariums at my home. These lobsters are absolutely fascinating to watch. They shared with me most of their intimate secrets, and showed me what lobsters do in their spare time (a VERY long story short, ha!)

After a while you come to realize that New England Lobsters are not filthy, mindless brutish cockroaches on steroids. They are intelligent, cleanly, inquisitive, highly motivated creatures. They have recall and as many differant personalities as we humans do.

We took care of these animals like they were our children and they eventually all got names. I now know how to recognize the signs of illness, stress, hunger, etc. I know exactly what ambient water temp ranges they like, what substrate bottom type they like, and their favorite foods..

I've learned how to rehabilitate stressed lobsters (have done it many times) in my cold water lobster tanks, and have brought many dieing specimens back to life.

Recently, we released the last of my spcimens, a large perky male lobster called "Titan". He'd been with us for nearly a year. We brought him out in our boat, and swam him into a spot that is extremely dangerous to boats and nearly inaccesible from shore. There are no lobster traps in the area, and the place is not frequented by striped bass or cod (deadly enemy to lobsters). He will have the best chances at survival and long life there. After what he'd shown me, I owed him this effort at the very least.

My friends (love eating lobster) all think that I've lost my senses. I'm an old man now, and I tell them this: "No, I have not lost my senses, I have COME TO THEM!" ha!

I will probably continue to purchase, rehabilitate, observe and release large lobsters for the rest of my life.

One of my friends once asked; "why bother? theres thousands of them for sale at the store?"

I told him the story of a little girl on the beach. She was walking along Watch Hill beach in Rhode Island after a storm with her father. 100,000 starfish had washed up along the shore, and were dieing in the morning sunlight. The little girl bent down and picked one of the quivering starfish up. She went to great efforts removing her sandles and walking out in the water. She pitched the starfish back into the waves.

Her father saw her throw the single starfish in the water and said: "Sweet-heart, there are thousands of starfish dieing on this beach, it really don't matter.."

The little girl looked at him and said; "Well, it matters to him" and she pointed where she'd thrown the one starfish back.

And so, I say to my skeptic friends; "It matters to him"


Keep up the good work!


RJ in Connecticut

JOHN'S 2ND LOBSTER RESCUE:

On June 2, 2009 we rescued and released a 15 pound female and 9 pound male lobster. It was so cool to release them with neighborhood kids and adults. No one had seen such large lobsters and everyone was so excited to see the claw bands removed and watch them scamper along the bottom and hide under large protective rocks. The gift of freedom is really a gift that just keeps giving.

Best regards,

John

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