BladenOnline • March 1, 2023
For thousands of years, the North Atlantic right whale was a cornerstone of the Atlantic Ocean ecosystem. Sadly, this majestic species is almost extinct. Alarmingly, their population has declined by 30% in just the past decade, and nearly 2/3rds of those deaths are a result of fishing gear entanglement. New ropeless technology allows fishers to acoustically signal their gear to the surface with a lift bag or stowed rope. Protecting a critically endangered species like this is national law – and was being upheld in court – until Senator Susan Collins from Maine sunk in a special provision to a large must-pass bill in Congress. That provision seeks to quash federal agencies from enacting stronger protections for these whales for many years to come.