right whale

A second major seafood watchdog group has pulled its support for Maine's lobster fishery over concerns that it's harming endangered North Atlantic right whales.

Federal regulators said they will soon start a process to create new whale-protection rules for Maine's lobster fleet that will go beyond the controversial regulations going into effect on May 1.

On Wednesday the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration said lobstermen must remove gear that depends on suspended rope lines from the area, and may not reset it until the seasonal restrictions lift at the end of January.

A lawyer for the conservation law foundation, Erica Fuller, pointed to data just released Monday showing that the whales’ population dropped by 8% last year.

The number of endangered North Atlantic right whales left on the planet continues to fall, raising the stakes in the debate over what role Maine's lobster fishery plays in the species' decline.

The temporary injunction against the fishing restrictions is a significant victory for lobstermen and their allies' efforts to fight what they say are misguided efforts to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales from entanglement in trap rope and gear.

The federal restriction is set to go into effect on Monday, and last through the end of January. It's the first in a series of new federal gear rules aimed at reducing the risk that North Atlantic right whales will be entangled with trap rope and gear.

Federal regulators on Tuesday morning issued new rules for lobster and other trap-pot fisheries that aim to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales from harmful entanglements.

The federal government says it's extending a voluntary protective zone designed to help endangered North Atlantic right whales.

The groups have joined forces to launch a lobster boycott effort this spring, after a right whale named Cottontail was found dead in southeastern waters, apparently from entanglement with fishing gear.