KENNEBUNK — On March 7, Maine Lobstermen Association members and staff boarded a bus to make the two-hour trip south to Seafood Expo Northeast taking place in Boston. The trip gave members a chance to see firsthand what the lobster market is like nationally and internationally. "For years, lobstermen have been saying that lobster sells itself," said Andy Mays, a fisherman from Southwest Harbor in a news release. "This proves it doesn't."

"Our board of directors made the trip a few years ago and thought it was something all our members should see," said MLA Executive Director Patrice McCarron.

The Expo brings together thousands of seafood vendors from throughout the world, as well as hundreds of associated businesses. The show allows buyers to meet with their suppliers and is comparable in scope only to the annual Seafood Expo Global event in Brussels, Belgium. "What lobstermen learn when they come to the show is so important as they begin to realize the marketplace and the scale of their products on the world stage. It is always eye-opening!" Chris Rector, Maine staff person for Senator Angus King, who traveled with MLA members to Boston, said.

The Expo trade show featured seafood processors, equipment and packaging manufacturers, along with financial services, refrigeration, traceability specialists and environmentalists. Maine lobster had a prominent position at the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative booth as well as 19 individual Maine companies exhibiting. Increasingly those companies showcase Maine lobster in value-added processed products which are popular with diners and home consumers. MLA members were struck by Canada's marketing efforts for that country's lobster and by the influence of Asian countries both as purchasers and buyers.

Neal Prescott of Novatec Braids Ltd. and a business member of the MLA, said, "I am always impressed by the size of this industry especially when viewed from way upstream as a lobster Trap cord manufacturer."

"I had a great time at the show, which was really something. Plus I had a chance to catch up with other lobstermen on the ride," said Steve Train, a Long Island lobsterman.

The MLA is the state's oldest fishermen's organization, founded in 1954. Its mission is to advocate for a sustainable lobster resource and the fishermen and communities that depend on it. More information is available at mainelobstermen.org.