Did you know? The Maine lobster industry had a HUGE and well-deserved win the other day.
As you may have heard, our industry has been embroiled in a legal battle over the past few years, centered around the protection of the endangered right whale. This has been a challenging time for the industry, however, all of our efforts have prevailed!
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has ruled in favor of Maine lobster harvesters, stating that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must vacate a previously released biological opinion that ruled Maine’s lobster fishery was in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for potential right whale interactions.
This is a major win for our industry, and it reaffirms our stance that the industry and its efforts to protect the Right Whale have been sound and create no harm.
This decision is also an overwhelming victory for lobstering families and the communities that rely on this industry. It is also a testament to the resilience and determination of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA), who refused to go down without a fight. We are grateful for their efforts and for the court's thorough and unanimous opinion that exposes the flaws in the biological opinion.
While this is indeed great news, our work will continue. We all agree with the need to ensure a safe environment in which the endangered right whale can recover, and the MLA is hopeful that this decision will force the National Marine Fisheries Service to go back to the drawing board to develop a plan that uses best available science and accurate data. Importantly, this should be a plan that will protect whales without eliminating the lobster fishery.
We want to take this opportunity to thank you, our loyal customers, for your unwavering support.
Your continued patronage humbles us, and we are so very grateful for you. We look forward to continuing to serve you with the best, sustainably harvested Maine lobster that comes to our dock.
Thank you for being a part of our journey. Here's to a brighter future for our industry, our communities, and the magnificent right whale.