November 21, 2022 — Maine’s governor and congressional delegation released a joint statement Sunday expressing relief that a judge has delayed for two years the implementation of lobster gear restrictions designed to protect endangered whales.
But they also emphasized that the action merely postpones the threat to Maine’s lobster industry and reiterated that the new restrictions do nothing to meaningfully protect endangered North Atlantic right whales.
Environmentalists had sought to force federal regulators to issue new rules within six months to protect the whales from fishing gear entanglements, but the National Marine Fisheries service said it needs to postpone implementation until the end of 2024.
Gov. Janet Mills, Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Reps. Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree released the statement Sunday morning.