MAINE PUBLIC • December 30, 2020
The federal government this morning published proposed new regulations for the East Coast lobster fishery that aim to reduce the risk that endangered North Atlantic right whales will become entangled in trap lines. NOAA is proposing seasonal closures of some federal waters — including an area about 30 miles off Maine’s coast — from October through the end of January. The proposal also would require more traps to be deployed on a single line — with some adjustments depending on distance from shore and to protect fishermen's safety. And the feds are also proposing to require breakaway links to rope lines, and permitting the use of so-called “ropeless” gear in otherwise closed areas.