Vinalhaven Lobster House

I have enjoyed painting along the Maine coast for more than forty years. Two of my favorite locations are the island of Vinalhaven off the coast of Rockland and Stonington at the tip of Deer Island; both of these are major lobstering ports. Lobstering is synonymous with the state --- with its image and cuisine. At present both these ports are enjoying record lobster harvests but climate change could affect all this. The North Atlantic sea surface temperatures are rising 99% faster than those of the world’s other oceans. Rapidly increasing sea temperatures off Maine’s coast could cause the same losses as those experienced by the lobster fisheries south of Cape Cod.

Wouldn’t it be tragic if climate change destroyed this Maine tradition?

JAMES B. MYETTE