[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10] [Senate] [Page 13345] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]RECOGNIZING SHUCKS MAINE LOBSTER Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, my home State has a worldwide reputation of excellence in the seafood industry. The natural blessings of our rich, rugged coast coupled with our fishermen's hard work and commitment to quality is a recipe for success. Maine's seafood industry has blossomed to prestige and is known for its superior product. This reputation has been cultivated by Maine's industry leaders through years of careful quality control and efforts to foster brand recognition. I rise today to commend one such company--Shucks Maine Lobster of Richmond, ME that exhibits the ingenuity and innovative spirit so characteristic of the small businesses in Maine. Founded in 2007 by CEO John Hathaway, Shucks Maine Lobster is a seafood processing company with an inventive solution to the most common predicament with lobster--extracting the meat is so much work. Buying wild-caught lobster straight from local fishermen, Shucks then processes the whole lobster using highly pressurized water to loosen the shell from the meat. The lobsters are then carefully shucked by hand and packaged in a vacuum-sealed container for freshness and extended refrigerator shelf life. This allows for the lobster meat to be extracted whole--no easy feat, I assure you. This unique method yields fresh, never cooked, preshucked lobster meat that is now available on a large commercial scale. It is through the exceptional effort of companies such as Shucks Maine Lobster that Maine's seafood industry has garnered its world renowned reputation for premium quality products. The worldwide acclaim Shucks Maine Lobster continues to receive at international food shows and chef competitions adds to the long tradition of Maine's superior seafood. Their well-deserved accolades also promote Maine as a brand. By producing such a delicious and more user-friendly way to enjoy Maine's fresh lobster, Shucks introduces and expands to new markets and furthers the positive reputation of all Maine seafood. The creativity, dedication, and can-do spirit, so characteristic of Maine entrepreneurs, can be seen at Shucks Maine Lobster in abundance. From a small lobster shack in Kennebunkport to a leader in the frozen lobster industry, Shucks has seen both the challenges and rewards of seeing an opportunity and sailing towards it. I commend Shucks Maine Lobster for all their success and wish them well in the future. ____________________