November 15, 2022 — The Maine Lobstermen’s Association filed its opening brief in a battle against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and its 10-year whale protection plan that calls for the industry to reduce the risk of North Atlantic right whale entanglements with lobster gear.
The brief explained that the NMFS, by law, must use “the best scientific and commercial data available and ensure only that the lobstermen are not likely to jeopardize the right whale population.”
However, the MLA argued that the data used was skewed and “catastrophized,” per an MLA press release. As the MLA explained in its brief, NMFS used “worst-case scenarios” to impose their risk reduction plan, which includes gear modifications and closed fishing areas.