TIMES RECORD • February 28, 2023
This past summer, NOAA had fast-tracked implementation of rules around the endangered North Atlantic Right Whales, which would have made dramatic changes to Maine’s lobster fishery in two years rather than 10. In response, Maine’s federal delegation secured a 6-year pause in the implementation of those regulations, and also provided $55 million in funding for research and monitoring. This action was a welcome break for Maine lobstermen. Some of the funding will allow for continued research into better understanding the behavior and distribution of right whales as a result of the changing environmental situation in the Gulf of Maine. Similarly, ongoing research to determine how lobsters are adapting to changes in the Gulf of Maine will inform scientists about the impact of current whale protection measures on the industry. Also included in this Congressional package is research funding for new gear technology. ~ Rep. Allison Hepler, Woolwich