At their annual town meeting in June, Wiscasset voters agreed to suspend an ordinance that has in previous years prevented lobster traps from being placed in the river's designated mooring area. The vote suspended the ordinance for one year.

So far, the trial period is going well, according to the town's harbor master, lobstermen and others. A lower per pound price for lobster coupled with an unusual shedding season have made it challenging for fishermen, but fishermen say they are grateful for the town's support.

Lobstermen have been working with the town and recreational boaters and Wiscasset Harbor Master Dan Bradford said there have been few, possibly four at most, conflicts between lobstering equipment and recreational boats.

Bradford said the four issues, such as tangled lines or traps too close to a mooring, were resolved before any problems arose.

“I think the (lobstermen are) keeping right on top of it the best they can,” co-op manager Tim Chadwick said. He operates the North End Co-op on Westport Island, buying lobster from the fishermen who work in the river. “They know what moorings are where.”

Lobstermen say the additional space helps, and they are grateful for the town's support.  However, fishing in the Sheepscot River comes with some challenges. 

In addition to the challenges of fishing in a river, the price of lobster is low. For many fishermen the extra money from fishing the river is a drop of water on a dehydrated plant; it is just enough to stay alive, but not enough to grow. Sheepscot River lobstermen are making $2 per pound at the North End Co-op. 

Herring used as lobster bait costs fishermen $115 per barrel, according to Chadwick, and rising fuel costs make it very hard for fishermen to earn a living. Some say they are getting by, but are not getting ahead.

Mark Damon takes out his boat, the Amber Dawn, every day to haul 600 traps, the maximum number fishermen in this district decided to allow. Damon said strong currents from incoming and outgoing tides pull buoys under water, hiding them from view. Fishermen have to return another day for buoys they can't find. Also, high tides have caused lobsters to stay put.

While Damon said he has not seen a significant increase in his catch in the mooring area of the river, the town's decision to allow fishermen to haul their traps there “was a real positive thing. It showed me the community supports our industry.”

Rex Collamore runs the Cindy C with sternman Frankie Barrington. As night fell and he pulled lobsters out of a large tub, Barrington said they did “fairly well.” Collamore has been fishing the Sheepscot for about 20 years and used to follow the lobster migration downriver to the three-mile line. He has cut back on his fishing in recent years, but agreed that allowing fishermen to haul traps in Wiscasset's mooring area showed support for those in the industry. 

Fishermen have put a lot of faith and income into their future. Collamore used his house and property as collateral to get a loan to purchase property on Westport Island 15 years ago. He said four other members did the same so they could purchase the property on which the co-op now sits. Chadwick said co-op members have just one more year to pay off the loan. 

Tony Colby said he has been fishing in the river since age 18. He and his family haul 160 traps throughout the week. While Tony appreciates the town's support for the industry, he said he lost some gear in the harbor in previous years and sets traps in other areas of the river. 

He and his wife Bonnie Colby work full time jobs and lobster with their sons Brandon and Dylan. The two sons were helping to load lobsters into a crate to be sold at the co-op. Dylan has his junior lobster license and hopes to become a full time lobsterman. 

“It's kind of addicting,” Tony Colby said. “You never get rich, but you kind of stick to it. You never know what you're going to get, so you got to keep trying.”

Many reports have noted that unseasonably warm water temperatures caused lobsters to molt early this year and the fishery saw an increase in the lobster population. While the resulting drop in price has Sheepscot River fishermen going out to haul three to four days per week on average, Chadwick hopes for a better future.

“There are a lot of little ones around,” he said. “Which is a good sign.”

Many fishermen in other areas are worse off than those who sell their catch at the Westport Island co-op, he added, but he hopes the price will increase.