December 18, 2020 — New federal rules to reduce the chances of endangered right whales becoming entangled in lobster pot and gillnet gear are expected soon, but so are the whales, with as much as 2/3 of the remaining population arriving in state waters in the coming months.
Hoping to have additional protections in place, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries held public hearings last week on a plan they believe will make the state compliant with the federal plan and satisfy a judge’s order.
Friday is the last day to submit public comment on the plan which, among other things, would close down all state waters to fishing with lobster pots for three months beginning Feb. 1 and close an additional area off Scituate to gillnet fishing. All recreational lobster and crab pot gear would also have to be out of the water from the day after Columbus Day through the Friday before Memorial Day.