February 24, 2021 — New federal regulations aimed at saving endangered whales could have serious consequences for Maine’s lobster industry.
“The issue isn’t in Maine waters,” Maine lobsterman John Drouin said.
For 42 years, Drouin has trapped lobsters in Downeast Maine.
He and every other Maine lobsterman are now bracing for proposed new rules intended to protect the North Atlantic right whale.
They call for a 60 percent reduction in the risk lobster lines pose to right whales, by increasing the number of traps per line, and adding weak points to the vertical lines between buoys and traps, where right whales can get entangled.