PORTLAND, Maine — Commercial fishermen looking for a relaxation of fishing regulations under former President Donald Trump have encountered a significant obstacle, as a federal appeals court has reinstated regulations designed to safeguard an endangered whale species from being caught in fishing equipment.
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston reversed a previous ruling made by a lower court on Thursday, restoring protections initially set in place. The lower court had struck down a federal law that enforced a ban on lobster fishing within a 200-nautical-mile area off the coast of New England from February 1 to April 30 each year.
The North Atlantic right whale, which has dwindled to fewer than 380 individuals, faces serious threats from entanglement in lobster traps, among other dangers. Collisions with large vessels also pose significant risks to this species.
This winter ban on fishing is deemed crucial for the survival of these whales, particularly during the months when they congregate in large numbers along the New England coastline. Environmental advocacy groups that initiated the lawsuit to reinstate these protections highlighted that the court’s recent decision serves as a significant victory for conservation efforts focused on the right whale. Jane Davenport, a senior attorney with Defenders of Wildlife, remarked on the importance of this ruling for safeguarding the species.
Davenport added that the temporary closure impacts only a small number of lobster fishermen for three months but plays a vital role in protecting the whales from life-threatening entanglements in fishing gear that have been pushing them toward extinction.
The court’s ruling comes at a time when stakeholders in the seafood industry and various maritime sectors had hoped to see a more favorable approach from Trump. Just before Trump assumed office, the shipping industry benefited from the withdrawal of a proposed federal rule that would have mandated slower speeds for vessels in East Coast waters to better protect the right whale. However, authorities noted that there wasn’t sufficient time to enforce this regulation before Trump’s inauguration.
Now, commercial fishermen are contemplating their response to the appellate court’s decision regarding lobster fishing regulations, according to Beth Casoni, the executive director of the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association. She expressed disappointment with the ruling but stated that they are currently in discussions with their legal team to explore their options moving forward.
The North Atlantic right whale once thrived along the East Coast, but its population has been drastically reduced by commercial whaling activities in past generations, leading to a slow recovery. Recent studies also suggest that climate change, particularly rising ocean temperatures, may be driving the whales away from designated protected habitats as they search for food.
