Governor Mills and Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher today released the following statements on the United States Court of Appeals decision to reinstate a 967 square mile fishing closure off the coast of Maine. The shutdown was temporarily suspended by U.S. District Court Judge Lance Walker in October following a lawsuit filed by the Maine Lobster Union.

“This is a deeply disappointing result. This sudden shutdown will cause significant economic hardship for the Maine lobster industry, cost hundreds of fishermen millions of dollars, and have a profound impact on businesses that depend on landings during the lucrative late fall months. and winter. Governor Mills said. “We will continue to do all we can in the weeks and months to come to defend the lobster vessels in Maine.”

With support from Governor Mills, DMR science staff deployed seven archival sound traps throughout the Gulf of Maine in October, including one in the LMA1 Restricted Area, to listen for right whales. These sound traps will provide data to better understand right whale habitat use in the Gulf of Maine and ensure management actions are based on sound science.

“Improved science will translate into better outcomes for right whales and for Maine’s vital lobster industry,”continued Governor Mills.

Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher highlighted the operational and security challenges posed by recent court decisions.

“This industry is suffering from a whiplash, trying to change its plans on the basis of these rapidly changing court decisions,” said Commissioner Keliher. “Moving gear about 30 miles offshore at this time of year also poses a serious safety risk to fishermen. The lives of fishermen are at stake and NOAA and the courts have an obligation to take the safety of fishermen into account when making these decisions.

Commissioner Keliher also underlined the need for the state to remain focused on a trial that potentially has even more impact than the Union trial.

“As difficult as it may be, the state will continue to focus its legal resources on the case in the DC District Court that challenges biological opinion and has the potential for a complete fishery shutdown. These stakes are extremely high and require our full attention ”, Commissioner Keliher continued.

Maine DMR will confirm the timing of the shutdown and communicate relevant details to the industry when available.

Governor Mills has repeatedly defended Maine’s vital lobster industry and its workers in the face of the federal government’s right whale proposal.

His Administration intervened in the ongoing litigation Center for Biological Diversity c. Ross in the United States District Court in the DC Circuit, which, if decided in favor of the plaintiff, could shut down the Maine lobster fishery altogether.

The governor also recently sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo urging NOAA Fisheries to take swift action to reduce unnecessary economic damage to Maine fishermen. She also joined the Maine Congressional delegation in applauding the U.S. District Court’s decision in Maine to halt enforcement of the LMA 1 shutdown and urged Secretary Raimondo to use her authorities to immediately address the many loopholes. of the rule.

Last year, she wrote to the Commerce Department urging them to reject a petition from Pew Charitable Trusts that calls for three seasonal offshore closures in the Gulf of Maine that would ban the use of vertical lines in lobster fisheries. American and Jonah crab in four regions of the New England coast.

She also filed comments with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on the draft biological advice for ten fisheries management plans in the Grand Atlantic region, focusing on the North Atlantic right whale. , expressing “grave concern” and warning that it would be economically devastating. and fundamentally change the lobster fishery in Maine.