Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation

Name

Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation

Legal name

Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation

Website

https://www.gomlf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kennebunk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Grants and Fundraising: GOMLF receives a majority of its funding from public grants, including NOAA Marine Debris Program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Fishing for Energy Program, Northeast Consortium development funds, and Maine Department of Marine Resources collaborations. Additional funding comes from individual and corporate donations, community business sponsorships, and organizational community service payments from environmental compliance cases.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation (GOMLF) is a nonprofit foundation that delivers conservation and research programs for the Gulf of Maine lobster fishery. Its core offerings include the eMOLT electronic monitoring program, the Gear Grab initiative for derelict fishing gear recovery and recycling, the Student Drifters youth oceanographic education program, the New England Gear Response and Recovery Team, and the Lobster Lines newsletter. Services are delivered at no cost through grants and donations, with fishermen volunteering vessels and time for fieldwork.

Product overview

The Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation operates as a non-profit organization managing conservation and research programs focused on the lobster fishery. The portfolio includes eMOLT for electronic monitoring of lobster traps, the Gear Grab initiative for derelict gear recovery with three components (at-sea recovery, gear recycling, and shoreline cleanup), Student Drifters for youth education, and the Lobster Lines newsletter. Past programs include the Bottom Line Project and Sea Samplers. The organization collaborates with Maine Department of Marine Resources, NOAA, and other partners to protect and sustain a healthy lobster fishery through scientific data collection, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GEAR GRAB: A three-pronged initiative to engage community stakeholders in addressing the economic and environmental impact of ghost gear and marine debris, including at-sea recovery, gear collection and recycling, and community shoreline cleanup.
• eMOLT
• Student Drifters
• Lobster Lines

Products and services

• eMOLT (electronic Monitoring of Lobster Trap)

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,372 ghost traps recovered and 1,100 returned to owners in 2010-11 alone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Maine Department of Marine ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOMLF works with Maine DMR to secure special permits allowing the handling and recycling of derelict gear, which is otherwise illegal under Maine law. DMR also collaborates on the Sea Sampling Program and Gear Grab initiatives.
• New York Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiated a contribution to GOMLF for recovering traps in areas where sailing fleets hold regattas, wanting to give back to the lobster industry after hearing about gear retrieval program success.
• Blue Ocean Society for Marine ConservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a collaborative organization working with GOMLF on marine conservation initiatives.
• Massachusetts Sea GrantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as one of dozens of collaborative organizations maintaining relationships with GOMLF.
• Massachusetts Division of Marine FisheriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a collaborative organization in GOMLF's network of partnerships.
• Maine Coast Heritage TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a collaborative organization in GOMLF's partnership network.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gulf of Maine Research Institute: Portland, Maine-based non-profit focused on marine science research, education, and stewardship of the Gulf of Maine. Highly comparable in mission, geography, and stakeholder base, with deeper focus on K-12 education and broader marine ecosystem science.
• Maine Coast Fishermen's Association: Maine-based industry association advocating for commercial fishermen and sustainable fisheries. Closely comparable stakeholder base (Maine lobstermen) and overlapping mission around fishery sustainability and community resilience.
• Penobscot East Resource Center: Downeast Maine non-profit supporting commercial fishermen through leadership training, fisheries science, and marine research. Highly comparable in supporting Maine's lobster industry with similar small-staff non-profit model.
• Island Institute: Rockland, Maine-based non-profit working on economic and environmental resilience for Maine's coastal and island communities, including marine resources. Comparable in mission and Maine-coastal geography with broader community-development scope.
• Center for Coastal Studies: Cape Cod-based non-profit conducting marine research, education, and conservation. Comparable as a New England marine research/conservation non-profit with similar programs in marine animal and habitat protection.
• Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation: New Hampshire-based non-profit focused on marine debris removal, education, and ocean conservation. Directly comparable mission (marine debris cleanup and community engagement) and is an existing GOMLF partner.
• Maine Coast Heritage Trust: Maine-based land conservation non-profit with coastal and marine program focus. Comparable as a Maine-focused environmental non-profit with overlapping networks; listed as a GOMLF collaborative partner.
• National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: Non-profit supporting the National Marine Sanctuary system through conservation, education, and community engagement. Comparable as a marine conservation non-profit reliant on government partnerships, with similar small-staff operational model.

Broad incumbents

• Surfrider Foundation: National non-profit focused on beach access, coastal water quality, and marine debris. Overlaps significantly with GOMLF's Gear Grab marine debris program but operates at much larger national scale with broader advocacy mandate.
• Ocean Conservancy: Large national marine conservation non-profit with programs on ocean health, marine debris, and fisheries. Comparable mission focus on marine debris but operates at substantially larger scale and broader geographic scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lobsterfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/mainelobsterfoundation
• Xx.com/GOMLF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gulf-of-maine-lobster-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation