EXCERPT: "Despite arguments from the Department of Marine Resources and the Maine Lobstermen’s Association that it would cost the lobster industry millions of dollars to comply, and that there was no scientific basis for the action, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service (NMFS) imposed that requirement (originally slated to become effective last October) in response to a federal law suit brought by several conservation organizations, including the Ocean Conservancy. The suit was aimed at forcing the agency to do more to protect endangered right whales and other large whales from the risk of becoming entangled in fishing gear in the Gulf of Maine."
ROCKPORT, ME (March 12, 2009) – Maine lobstermen had little to cheer about at last weekend’s Fishermen’s Forum and the coming months are unlikely to fill them with cheer.
However strong the catch and no matter how high the boat price climbs, most of the state’s lobster harvesters will be fishing under the long shadow cast by ongoing efforts to protect endangered right whales from entanglement in lobster gear.
Starting April 6, lobstermen fishing in the Gulf of Maine, including in large areas of state-controlled waters, will be required to use only sinking rope for the groundlines that connect traps together on the sea floor.
Read the Ellsworth American story in full