by Jon James|
Did you know that Maine Lobster has been red listed in California, causing a decline in re-sellers of our favorite seafood delicacy? And Lobstermen have had no recourse other than to take it on the chin…until now.
So, why the bad rap for Maine lobsters? Because of the dwindling number of Right Whales.
These whales allegedly get caught in the lobstermen’s fishing gear but, according to a conversation I once had with a guest on a show I did with the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, this is just not true. Not even close.
Still, that didn’t stop Seafood Watch, a conservation program operated by Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, from putting the crustaceans on a “red” list in the U.S and Canada, urging people not to eat them.
Maine Representative, Billy Bob Faulkingham, who IS a lobsterman, called the attacks on lobster “an absolute joke.”
Now, there is an antidote to the bad press.
After a lawsuit was filed by the fishermen, the aquarium attempted to have it tossed in 2023 but now, Judge John Woodcock, has given them the green light to pursue damages acknowledging that the there has been enough evidence presented by the lobster fishermen to show that the red listing has caused damage to the industry’s reputation.
According to an Associated Press article:
The Maine Lobstermen’s Association, one of the groups that filed the lawsuit, described Woodcock’s decision as “significant” in a statement.
“Maine lobstermen have been stewards of the ocean for generations, and we are committed to defending our livelihood against baseless claims,” said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the association.
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