Lobster industry leaders vow to continue fight to protect Maine’s iconic fishery
Maine lobster industry officials told business leaders Thursday that they will continue to fight what they see as unfair and unnecessary federal rules meant to protect endangered right whales. “We are well over a $2 billion industry to the state primarily operating in communities without other job prospects,” Patrice McCarron, head of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association said. “It cannot be overstated.” Lobsterman Curt Brown, who is also a marine biologist, said the industry has been taking steps to protect the whales since the 1990s, including replacing floating ropes, using weak links so ropes break more easily and removing 30,000 miles of rope from the Gulf of Maine. >click to read< 07:34
It is time commercial fishers from all the states unite with membership to their states’ Farm Bureau. The states Farm Bureaus’ lobby within the state for farmers, including commercial fishing interests whom are “harvesters”. A harvestor by definition is a farmer. Your state Farm Bureau membership includes membership in the American Farm Bureau. For Years, The American Farm Bureau Federation recongnises fishers as farmers and has lobbyists in Washington to work on your behalf. Uniting on “Right to Farm / Fish” issues on a national scale is a cheaper way to succeed on preserving our industry than to spend money defending one state one fishery at a time.