PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 7, 2020
Two years ago, only 366 North Atlantic right whales were left on Earth. Since then, at least another 15 of these magnificent creatures have been killed or seriously injured by human activity. And just in the past month, two devastating new entanglements of young whales in fishing gear were discovered in New England. North Atlantic right whales have roamed the coastal waters of New England for centuries, and their history is intertwined with our own. The National Marine Fisheries Service has until May 31, 2021, to come up with new protections. The science is clear – fewer lines in the water reduce the risk of entanglement and speed limits in areas where whales are known to be feeding or calving reduces the risk of a collision. It’s time for difficult choices and it’s time for the NMFS to do its job. ~ Alison Rieser, professor emerita at UMaine School of Law, Newcastle