are maine lobsters endangered

And Brett Hartl of the Center for Biological Diversity says the decision could put the right whale on an irreversible slide to extinction. Walker questioned the federal statistical models used to evaluate the risk of whales becoming entangled in lobster fishing equipment. The information gathered from these studies is used to inform conservation efforts and to develop new strategies for protecting Maine lobsters. That's where the flagpole would loom above the landscape, topped with an observation tower . No more than 340 North Atlantic right whales exist today, and for the population to recover, the number of whales killed or injured by human activities must be limited to less than one per year, on average, writes the California-based nonprofit in a statement. [Rather] it may be a pathway as the whales are migrating from either the eastern Gulf of Maine or the Gulf of St Lawrence This is a time and place where a lot of whales are using this as their habitat which have a lot of functions. Last week, we won. Seafood Watch announced that consumers should avoid lobsters, because their traps threaten the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Her work has appeared in theSag Harbor Expressand has aired onWSHU Public Radio. The conservation . Already, both HelloFresh and Blue Apron have pledged to stop selling lobster in their meal kits, writesPatrick Whittle for theAssociated Press. Selectmen Vice Chair Ed Hutchins, a fifth-generation lobsterman, said he. As someone with deep roots in Stonington, Maine, where my ancestors fished, went out to sea and risked their lives, I know that the Maine fishing community are at the heart of our state, and those fishermen have my deepest gratitude and my fervent support. Recent years have ushered in efforts to develop alternate forms of gear and methods of lobster fishing to protect the dwindling right whale population. However, she added, NOAA has documented several large whale entanglement incidents involving Maine lobster gear since Maine fisherman began marking their gear in purple, a new requirement as of 2020. Maine lobsters are a $1 billion industry providing at least 5,900 direct jobs and indirectly supporting many more, according to the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, which coordinates media for the state's lobster industry. According to CBS, the lobster industry was worth $1.4 billion industry as of December 2021, and is a livelihood source for thousands connected to it in some way. One of the greatest threats the dwindling population faces is entanglement in fishing gear. However, the threats facing Maine lobster populations are real and significant. By working together, we can help to ensure that Maine lobsters continue to thrive for generations to come. And in mid-November, the environmental nonprofit Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) announced that it would suspend its sustainability certificate for the Gulf of Maine lobster fishery, citing failure to comply with federal conservation standards (though also noting there is no evidence to show that the fishery is responsible for entanglements of right whales). Scars mark the body of a large right whale in Cape Cod Bay, off the coast of Massachusetts, in April 2022. Entangled whales, especially young calves, may drown if they cannot reach the surface; others die slowly of starvation. Maine's $1.4bn lobster industry has for decades been the lifeline for numerous lobster fishers including Olsen herself. The Maine politicians stressed that their state's lobstering community has "consistently demonstrated their commitment to protecting right whales" and that there has never been a right whale death attributed to Maine lobster gear. Governor Janet Mills Margaret Osborne is a freelance journalist based in the southwestern U.S. In this article, we will explore the current state of Maine lobster populations, the threats they face, and what is being done to protect them. Right whales are protected under federal conservation laws like the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, which are implemented by NOAA (which is part of the Department of Commerce). As coastal development continues to expand, it is encroaching on the habitats where lobsters live and breed. One of the most significant diseases affecting lobsters is shell disease, which causes lesions to form on their shells. PORTLAND, Maine Lobsterman Curt Brown had already logged . Baby lobster numbers low off New England as waters warm Maine is the largest lobster-producing state in the U.S. | For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Endangered North American right whales number only about 340 and they've declined in recent years. Every vertical fishing line and gillnet is a threat to the remaining whales, which face the risk of entanglement every day,he tells the publication. We felt like this was a step that was going to hurt our fishery, our communities, Olsen said, referring to the federal ban. Im livid, she said at the conference. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday released a new set of rules for New England's lobster fishery aimed at reducing the risk to critically endangered North Atlantic. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Whole Foods drops Maine lobster, citing risk to endangered whales - NPR "Seafood Watch recommends to Avoid American lobster caught by trap from Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine stocks due to risks to the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale and . On July 9th, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) changed its Red List Category for North Atlantic right whales from endangered to critically endangered. Its unfortunate that the governments failure to update the safeguards to protect North Atlantic right whales is having such serious consequences on these [lobster] fisheries, Brogan tells the Guardian. Lobsterman load traps onto a lobster boat at Custom House Wharf in Portland in July 2022. ", "As athird-generation lobsterman, I take immense pride in the work our industry does to safely, sustainably harvest lobster, and I too want to protect our legacy and what well be able to pass down to our children," he said. Recent years have ushered in federal efforts to make lobster fishing practices safer for whales in Maine and other states. Senator Angus King from Maine called the listing outrageous and egregiously irresponsible, at a press conference. North Atlantic right whale population drops to about 340, worrying scientists (Washington Post), New Lobster Regulations to Protect Right Whales Met With Opposition on All Sides (WCAI), Federal court rules fisheries officials didnt do enough to protect right whales from lobster gear (Boston Globe), A major seafood organization suspended its. MILLER: Just before Christmas, Brown's industry received welcome news. They are at the heart of my Administration too, and I will always stand by their side. hide caption. Sustainable Seafood? According to CBS, the lobster industry was worth $1.4 billion industry as of December 2021, and is a livelihood source for thousands. MILLER: The battle has even seeped into the supermarket seafood section. As a result of those efforts, it's clear: no right whale death has been attributed to Maine lobster gear, and there has not been a single right whale entanglement attributed to Maine lobster gear in nearly two decades. Lawmakers using spending bill to delay lobster restrictions; whale Federal ruling in controversial whale lawsuit gives big win to Maine Our jumbo lobsters come from Canada due to differences in fishing regulations between Canada and the United States. Only about 16 of the 1,600 entanglement scars and incidents evaluated by New England Aquarium researchers have been traced back to a fishing location, NOAA spokesperson Andrea Gomez told NPR over email. As temperatures in the ocean rise, lobsters are moving northward in search of cooler waters. Whole Foods sells wild-caught seafood only from fisheries that are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council or rated either green (buy first) or yellow (buy, but be aware of concerns) by Seafood Watch, the company said in a statement. Why Janet Mills is standing in the way of a Maine tribal-rights expansion Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening. I will continue to proudly stand by Maine Lobster, and would encourage retailers, buyers, and patrons to educate themselves on the nuances of these decisions.. Lobsters And Right Whales Are On A Climate-driven Collision Course All rights reserved. And by the end of November, at the very latest, we have two inches of ice and we'd be done. It's pitted advocates for endangered whales against one of the nation's most valuable fisheries. Maines political leaders criticized the decision, which was based on assessments by two conservation groups that have raised concerns that North Atlantic right whales have become entangled in the ropes used to fish for lobster. This has led to declines in lobster populations in southern Maine. Marianne LaCroix, executive director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, an industry group, said she did not have data to quantify how much of an impact Whole Foods decision would have on the states lobster industry. Lawmakers in New England have been split on the recent regulations targeting the lobstering industry, with Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) accusing Seafood Watch of literally trying to put these people out of business after the organization red-listed lobsters. It also said that Mainers who fish for lobster had a 150-year history of sustainability and had consistently demonstrated their commitment to protecting right whales., Despite this, the Marine Stewardship Council, with retailers following suit, wrongly and blindly decided to follow the recommendations of misguided environmental groups rather than science, the statement said. An MSC spokesperson explained to NPR over email that one performance indicator which requires that any management strategy involving right whales is highly likely to achieve the national requirements for that species' protection fell below the minimum required score. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. Company sourcing standards established in 2012 dictate that all wild-caught seafood sold in its stores must be from fisheries that are either certified by the MSC or rated green or yellow by Seafood Watch, as Whole Foods explained in a statement. Whole Foods Will Stop Selling Maine Lobster, Citing Risks to Endangered But lobsters . Privacy Statement All rights reserved. Joe Raedle/Agence France-Presse Getty Images. What in a collaborative fashion would be helpful would be if fishermen that might be otherwise closed out of a certain area or fishermen who generally want to be part of a solution would try on some of this gear Based on fishermens feedback, we get the best gear modifications. But Ms. LaCroix said, We hate to lose any partner that were selling to as an industry., Michael Levenson joined The Times in December 2019. Offshore Wind - Not Maine Lobstering - Threatening Endangered Right While the disease is not fatal, it can make lobsters more vulnerable to other threats. A Victory for Maine's Lobster Industry Whole Foods (pictured here in Jackson, Miss.) "Given the low number of right whales, documented entanglements are more rare, but even one serious injury or mortality exceeds the Potential Biological Removal level established by the Marine Mammal Protection Act," Gomez explained. Two environmental watchdog groups cite a court ruling indicating current lobster harvesting practices may endanger North American right whales. Cookie Policy "We appreciate that the grocer paused lobster purchases from the Gulf of Maine, one of the places where lobster ropes threaten the few remaining right whales we have left. But conservationists see its lobstering practices as a significant factor in the reduction of right whale populations over the years. Lobsters Placed on 'Red List,' Angering Maine Fishing Community PORTLAND, Maine Maine's congressional delegation is using the $1.7 trillion federal spending bill to try to delay for six years new protections for endangered whales to protect Maine's. Now the National Marine Fisheries Service has to go back to the drawing board and rework these new federal regulations to protect right whales, but only when they are based on the best available data. Most of the predictions you hear are educated guesses at best, and superstitious claims at wors. But the Maine lobster industry has swiftly pushed back against the move, saying that Seafood Watch has no evidence of right whale entanglements in the states fishing gear. One of the most significant is habitat loss. What we needed as fishermen was some validation that what we were doing was actually in the best interest of the right whale and we didnt feel like the seasonal closure was that right step, she added. More about Michael Levenson, A version of this article appears in print on, Whole Foods to Stop Buying Maine Lobster Amid Risk to Endangered Whales, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/28/us/whole-foods-lobster-maine-whales.html. Cookie Settings, New Extinct Species of 'Ridiculously Cute,' Tiny Penguins Discovered in New Zealand, Five Astounding Orca Behaviors Explained, From Ramming Boats to Hunting Great White Sharks, The Lonely Battle to Save Species on a Tiny Speck in the Pacific, A Surfboard-Snatching Sea Otter Is Vexing Wildlife Officials in California, Seven Amazing Accomplishments the James Webb Telescope Achieved in Its First Year. Fewer than 350 of the marine mammals remain, and they face myriad threats including entanglements in fishing gear, vessel strikes and climate change. A federal court ruled this summer that the new regulations, while intended to protect right whales, does not fully meet the legal obligations that fixed-gear fisheries have for doing so. Because of their potential for entangling marine creatures, Seafood Watch assigned a red listing to pot, trap and gillnet lobster fisheries. Nov. 28, 2022 Whole Foods has said it plans to stop buying Maine lobster, citing concerns from environmental groups that say endangered North Atlantic right whales have become entangled in. Some environmentalists have pointed to ropeless gear as a compromise to maintain the lobstering industry and protect right whales from entanglement. $724.9 million. It can be a breeding, feeding and socializing area, Brogan said. Because lobsters are happiest when the water registers temperatures ranging from 61 to 64 degrees, lobster stocks are almost sure to decline as temperatures continue to rise. A TikToker was wondering when she sees people ordering a 15-pound lobster from Maine if it is actually from Maine. . The fishing industry must contend with rising costs and, like the right whale, the impacts of climate change. What in the hell are these people thinking?. Maine's congressional delegation is using the $1.7 trillion federal spending bill to try to delay for six years new protections for endangered whales to protect Maine's lobster industry. The National Marine Fisheries Service issued new regulations last year that prohibited lobster fishing with vertical buoy lines in part of the fall and winter in the area, which is in federal waters off Maine's coast. ", "There has never been a right whale death attributed to Maine lobster gear," they said. Noaa has appealed Walkers order, arguing that the lobster unions and dealers failed to provide evidence of irreparable harm that the closure of the waters would have on them. And things appear to be going the other way pretty quickly. A major seafood organization announced Wednesday it will no longer recognize lobsters caught in the Gulf of Maine as sustainable, dealing a major blow to lobstermen amid an ongoing environmental battle over the protection of the endangered North Atlantic right whale, whose numbers have been decimated in recent years largely from fishing line entanglement. The Marine Stewardship Council announced on 16 November, 2022, the Maine lobster fishery will have its MSC certification suspended for a second time. Maine Governor Janet Mills argued at the conference that the industrys risk to whales is slim. She mentioned the protracted fight between Maine's lobster fishermen and the U.S. government over proposed federal restrictions aimed at protecting endangered whales. Do-not-eat listing draws lawsuit from Maine lobster industry - NPR They said the suspension of the sustainability certificate harms the livelihoods of working people, and strongly urged the MSC and retailers to "reconsider their potentially devastating decisions.". Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. The report states that gear used in fishing for lobster and other seafood is known to entangle the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Maine Lobster at Risk of Being 'Red' Listed by - NECN The company added it was not singling out Maine lobster but instead upholding a standard for responsible sourcing that it put in place for all wild-caught seafood in 2012. He said he hopes MSC will revisit the removal of its certification and offer a plan for moving forward. One projection estimates that climate change could cause the Gulf of Maine to lose up to 62% of its lobsters in the next three decades. Fresh Picked Maine Lobster Meat (1 Pound), Crab Rangoon: A classic appetizer made easy with this step-by-step recipe, Dip into Deliciousness: 12 Crab Dip Recipes for Any Occasion, Explanation of how climate change impacts lobsters, including ocean acidification and warming waters, Discussion of how climate change is affecting Maine lobster populations B. Overfishing, Overview of overfishing and how it affects Maine lobster populations, Examination of the regulations in place to prevent overfishing of Maine lobsters C. Pollution, Explanation of how pollution impacts Maine lobsters, Discussion of the types of pollution that affect lobsters, including plastics and chemicals. Due to warming waters, oyster farmer George Dowdle explains, "Twenty-five years ago, this time of year we were getting ready to put everything down for the winter. CURT BROWN: Yeah, we hauled - I say we. A spokesperson for Monterey Bay did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the Marine Stewardship Council could not immediately be reached for comment. The State of Maine Lobster Populations Maine has a long history of lobster fishing, and lobsters have been a vital part of the state's economy and culture for centuries. While lobsters were once abundant in Maine's waters, there have been significant declines in recent years. For example, lobstermen have worked with scientists and researchers to develop better traps that allow for the release of undersized or egg-bearing lobsters back into the ocean. Despite these uncontroverted facts, the federal government was moving heedlessly ahead with a new round of regulations that would have endangered the livelihoods of thousands of hardworking lobstermen who risk their lives to put food on the table, while paying out of their own pockets to protect right whales. Since then, however, their numbers have dropped each year. Maine lobsters are an important part of the state's economy and cultural heritage, and they are a beloved delicacy around the world. The court wrote that the Endangered Species Act which protects right whales "requires the Service to use the best available scientific data, not the . The main difference worth noting however is that the slightly warmer, yet still cold, waters of Maine provide the most ideal lobster meat.
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