March 9, 2022 — As Maine’s lobstermen fight national conservation groups over federal gear rules and fishery closures intended to protect endangered whales, they have found fierce allies among the state’s political leaders. That’s left some local advocates for the whales feeling sidelined by the powerful industry.
A few weeks ago, lobstermen joined lawmakers to support a bill that would give nearly a million dollars directly to the industry for its legal battles over whale protection measures.
None of Maine’s more well-known conservation groups weighed in, but a handful of local advocates for the planet’s estimated 340 North Atlantic right whales testified against it.
Holly Travers, a Westbrook retiree, was interrupted by Rep. James Thorne of Carmel while testifying that “Maine has the highest concentration of all vertical gear in U.S. waters, and whales travel through Maine waters.”
Travers was directed to focus her comments narrowly on the bill. The third opponent to receive such a caution, she quickly wrapped up her testimony.
Read the full story at Maine Public