lobster

State lawmakers are considering a new, million-dollar fund to help Maine lobstermen test fishing gear that's intended to minimize interactions with right whales.

A handful of state Republicans want Maine to claim jurisdiction over a larger swath of coastal waters, in attempt to alleviate federal regulatory pressures on the state's lobster fishery. But state officials and the leading group representing Maine lobstermen say the proposal could make things worse.

Under legislation from Maine House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, the state would divert $500,000 a year through 2030 to support the lobster industry's legal defense. The funds would be paid for through existing surcharges on lobster licenses.

Maine lobstermen are asking that the Monterey Bay Aquarium rescind the "red listing" and pay them compensatory damages for the economic harm they say the rating has caused them.

The Maine Public Employees Retirement System said for now, the proposal may only apply to about $70 million in holdings with Amazon, which owns Whole Foods. The grocery chain announced late last fall that it would stop selling Gulf of Maine lobster.

Some Maine fishermen are questioning the proposed changes, partly because Maine's landings — with last year a notable exception — have generally trended upward for more than a decade. Despite a strong catch, state fisheries officials say recent assessments point to a young lobster population in decline.

Lower prices at the dock and a more modest harvest of nearly 98 million pounds brought the fishery’s value down last year.

Members of the U.S. and Canadian lobster fisheries met in Portland over the weekend to discuss the challenges facing their industry.

With a proposal included in a federal government spending package, Maine is on track to receive several million dollars later this year for new gear and research aimed at reducing the risks to endangered right whales.

Maine's lobster fishery will have much longer to comply with federal rules aimed at reducing the risks to the endangered North Atlantic right whale population, if a government spending bill clears the U.S. Congress this week.