LEAGAL READER • March 16, 2023
Lobster fishing groups including the Maine Lobstermen’s Association are suing the Monterey Bay Aquarium, saying that their catch should not be included on a “red list” published by Seafood Watch, a conservation program piloted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Last year, Seafood Watch put lobster harvested in the United States and Canada on its list of “seafood to avoid.” The designation relates to the possible entanglement of endangered whales in the fishing equipment used to harvest American lobster. However, attorneys for the Maine lobstermen say that the aquarium’s recommendation is predicated on bad science.