November 7, 2019 — Lobstermen had the chance to weigh-in Wednesday night on potential new restrictions, designed to protect right whales.
The Maine Department of Marine Resources held the meeting in South Portland, to get feedback on the current plan, based on data from a federal team.
That plan calls for a reduction of the vertical lobster trap lines in the Gulf of Maine.
Maine fishery officials say they would remove 25 percent of the lines, not including an exemption for lobstermen who fish inshore waters.
The department says they working to find a balance, meanwhile lobstermen say they have done nothing wrong.