First printed in Working Waterfront, reprinted with permission When I was a child, I listened to Smoky Bear tell us, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires!” That was a clear and direct message but it … Continue reading
Tracking Right Whales is Complicated
Where are the North Atlantic right whales? The question is an urgent one for the future of both U.S. fisheries and the shipping industry because federal laws do not allow for the loss of a … Continue reading
Guest Column: Climate is the real culprit in the whale saga
In following the rollercoaster of how new regulations designed to protect the North Atlantic right whale will impact Maine’s lobster fishery and the communities the industry supports, two recent announcements stuck out to me. One … Continue reading
MLA Legal Appeal Argues NMFS Did Not Follow the Law
On January 10, the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) and its supporting intervenors filed final briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The MLA is appealing D.C. District Court Judge … Continue reading
Historic Congressional Action Hits Pause on New Whale Rules
Maine’s Congressional delegation, working with Governor Mills, achieved what some might call a “Christmas Miracle” for Maine’s lobster industry. The Omnibus federal funding bill, which Congress approved in late December, included a policy rider that … Continue reading
Guest Column: A lifeline for Maine’s lobster industry
By U..S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Reps. Chellie Pingree andJared Golden, and Maine Governor Janet Mills Several years ago, when NOAA began working on regulations that drastically affect Maine’s lobster fishery without meaningfully advancing the … Continue reading
Guest Column: Whale regulations, ‘red list’ for lobster absurd
A few weeks ago I attended a potluck fundraiser at a local library to raise money for the Maine Lobstermen’s Association’s Legal Defense Fund. MLA President Kristan Porter spoke of the importance of potlucks, where … Continue reading
Lobster Town Meeting Returns to Portland
The U.S.-Canada Lobster Town meeting, organized by the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine, will return to Portland this year on February 3 and 4. The meeting will address pressing issues affecting the lobster … Continue reading
Generous Islesford Gathering Raises $20,000 for Save Maine Lobstermen
By Barbara FernaldFirst published in Working Waterfront. Reprinted with permission. On July 8, I received an e-mail from the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) asking if [my husband] Bruce and I knew someone who would be … Continue reading
MLA Wins Expedited Review of Whale Rules
Former U.S. Solicitor General joins MLA’s legal team First published in Landings, November 2022 A federal appeals court has sided with the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) in granting its request to expedite consideration of its … Continue reading