ROCKLAND, Maine (AP) _ Maine's lobster fishing season is off to a slow start due to lack of lobster molting likely brought about by the cold winter.
The state's lobster season typically picks up after the bulk of the lobster population sheds its shells and grows to legal harvesting size. That occurred in late June last year. But state officials and lobstermen say it hasn't this year, meaning small catches.
State lobster biologist Carl Wilson says the cold winter and spring may have held back molting. Some lobstermen are reporting catches half the size they experienced at this time last year. He says molting could start happening ``any day now.''
Lobstermen say they expect a strong season despite the poor start. The Maine Import Export Lobster Dealers' Association's president says prices are slightly up.