Drive to reduce lobster gear, protect whales hits plan phase

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MAY 31, 2019 02:06 AM, UPDATED 1 HOUR 25 MINUTES AGO
TRENTON, MAINE

Maine fishery regulators are meeting with lobster fishermen along the coast to begin the process of crafting rules to better protect endangered whales.

A team assembled by the federal government has called for the removal of half the vertical trap lines from the Gulf of Maine. The Maine Department of Marine Resources says it will hold seven meetings in June to help develop a proposal to meet that goal.

The meetings are taking place in the state's seven lobster fishing zones and will begin June 4 and end on June 27. They're slated to take place in Trenton, Deer Isle, Kennebunk, Wiscasset, East Machias, Rockport and Freeport.

Lobster fishermen have voiced concerns about the gear reductions because of the fishery's economic importance to the state.


Read more: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/national-business/article231025733.html

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[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Because of measures taken by Maine and Canada last year, there are more babies and fewer deaths.

There were no N Atlantic Right Whale babies seen last year, but there was a great reduction in fatalities. There were 17 deaths in 2017, and only 2 in 2018.

There are at least 7 babies this year, very significant for a population around 450.