November 10, 2026 — Following the release of research conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Maine Lobstermen’s Association hopes it is enough to prevent currently paused regulations they say could decimate the industry.
The NMFS has managed the Maine Lobster Fishery since the late 1990s but, following an increase in deaths of the endangered right whale, they began to take action.
In 2023, an appeals court that sided with Maine’s lobstermen ordered a pause for certain regulations, which included the expansion of areas that couldn’t be fished, a decrease in the number of traps people could use, an increase in the weakness of rope and more. According to the MLA, it was a call for a 90% reduction of risk.