PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 23, 2023
Maine’s lobster fishery has the most rope in the ocean within right whale habitat. It’s legally obligated to reduce unintentional harm to species that are threatened or endangered. Maine politicians and lobster industry representatives make the unsupportable claim that Maine lobster gear hasn’t entangled any right whales since 2004. Contrary to assertions, no one is trying to put the lobster fishery out of business. Instead, people are working tirelessly on solutions for both fishermen and whales. Change will likely demand compromise and adaptation, but with federal funding and state investment, change is possible. The cost of entanglement prevention should not fall on our fishing communities. The Maine delegation should secure the money promised to fund and implement ropeless gear testing and adoption. It defies logic and common decency that Maine is not leading the effort to prevent all whale entanglement. ~ Sean K. Todd, Ph.D, and Brenna Sowder, Maine Coalition for North Atlantic Right Whales