NMFS: Maine’s proposal to keep right whales from getting entangled in lobstering gear doesn’t go far enough
The National Marine Fisheries Service has concluded that Maine’s plan to use a combination of weak rope and a 25 percent reduction in the number of buoy lines in state waters achieves, at best, a 52 percent risk reduction, while federal regulators are demanding a 60 percent reduction. “Because your proposal does not meet the 60 percent risk reduction target, we will be obligated to consider additional measures through our federal rulemaking,” said Michael Pentony, regional administrator of NMFS’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office. includes letter, >click to read< 08:09
60% of 0 =0. logically it means Maine Lobsterman should be able to decrease by 60% the regulations put upon them.
It’s been 17 years since a whale was found dead in Maine from lobster gear alone. How far back are they going to assess this 60% reduction? Who the he’ll is doing the math!