The Council is comprised of harvesters, dealers, and public members, one from each of three state regions (east, mid-coast, west.). Members are nominated by the Lobster Advisory Council and appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources for three-year terms, with a maximum of two consecutive terms.
Harvester Representatives
Peter Miller | Tenants Harbor | Midcoast Region
Peter has been fishing out of Tenants Harbor since he moved there in 1974. He first got a taste for lobstering when he worked with harvesters in Cape Porpoise during the summer months. His three brothers, his son and his nephew are all lobstermen, making lobstering a family affair for the Millers.
Jim Dow | Bar Harbor | Eastern Region
Jim has been fishing out of Bass Harbor since 1980. In addition to his lobstering experience, he also holds a degree in Business Management and serves as the Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Maine Lobstermen's Association.
Dealer Representatives
Emily Lane | Portland | Western District - Chair
Emily Lane is a seasoned seafood industry professional. She specializes in export sales to Europe and Asia and is the Vice President of Sales for Calendar Islands Maine Lobster Company, located in Portland. Emily has over 20 years experience in the Maine seafood industry.
Mike Cote | Whiting | Eastern District
Mike Cote is the President/CEO of Look’s Gourmet Foods, in Whiting Maine. Look’s products, which include lobster bisque, and processed lobster meat, are sold in the United States, Japan and Europe. Look’s has been named the fastest growing seafood soup company in America, and Mike, the Maine Biz Magazine’s Small Business Leader of the Year for 2010. Mike is dedicated to keeping Maine’s core industries, like our fishing industry, vital, competitive, and quality differentiated in the world’s markets.
John Petersdorf | Port Clyde | Midcoast District
John Petersdorf is President and General Manager of
Linda Bean's Maine Lobster in Port Clyde. Linda Bean's is a vertically integrated lobster company, operating wharfs, processing plants and restaurants. In addition to live lobster, the company produces value-added lobster products branded under the name Linda Bean's Perfect Maine®. John has almost 20 years experience in the lobster industry, starting out as a packer and working his way up to his current position.
Public Representatives
Cathy Billings | Orono | Eastern District
Cathy is the Associate Director of Communications and Development for the Lobster Institute, an organization that was founded with the mission of sustaining both the lobster resource and a viable lobster fishery through conservation, outreach, research and education.
Patrice McCarron | Kennebunk | Western District
Patrice is Executive Director of the
Maine Lobstermen's Association, an organization that provides a collective voice for the lobster harvesters in Maine. The MLA is composed of approximately 1200 members, primarily harvesters. Patrice has over 10 years of experience with the MLA, giving her in-depth knowledge about the lobster industry and its constituents.
Vaughn A. Stinson | Hallowell | Midcoast District
Vaughn has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Maine Tourism Association since 1998. He has oversight of the state’s eight visitor information centers, is responsible for up to 60 full- and part-time employees and an annual budget of $2.2 million. Vaughn’s involvement with the chambers of commerce and convention & visitors bureaus in Georgia, Maine, Florida, and Mississippi has provided him with a broad knowledge of travel and tourism, and their impact on economic and community development.
Ex-Officio Member - DMR Commissioner
Patrick Keliher | Commissioner, Department of Marine Resources