Governor Mills Announces Maine Granted Intervenor Status in Lawsuit Challenging Federal Regulations Hurting Maine's Vital Lobster Industry

Statement

Governor Janet Mills announced today that the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) has been granted intervenor status in Maine Lobstermen's Association v National Marine Fisheries Service, a lawsuit before the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. that challenges Federal regulations hurting Maine's vital lobster industry. It is the Mills Administration's latest effort to stand up for the lobster industry and its hard working men and women in the face of the Federal government's burdensome proposal.

"There's never been a known right whale mortality associated with the Maine lobster fishery, and there have been zero known right whale entanglements associated with Maine lobster gear in almost two decades. Despite these facts and regardless of our lobster industry's proven commitment to conservation, the National Marine Fisheries Service has pushed forward with regulations that will be devastating to our lobster industry and to our way of life," said Governor Mills. "Maine cares about protecting the endangered right whale, but the Federal government's regulations must be based in sound science and should account for conservation measures already taken by our fishery. I am glad my Administration has been granted intervenor status by the Court so we can make our case."

In Maine Lobstermen's Association v National Marine Fisheries Servicethe Maine Lobstermen's Association asserts that the National Marine Fisheries Service's new Biological Opinion, released in May, is unlawful. The plaintiffs argue that NMFS acted arbitrarily by failing to rely on the best available scientific information and by failing to account for the positive impact of conservation measures already adopted by the Maine lobster fishery.

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