The Solution
For more than 25 years, the Maine Lobstermen’s Association has been leading the effort to keep right whales safe in the rare instance they encounter Maine lobster gear. MLA is Maine’s only statewide organization committed to the preservation of a sustainable lobster resource and the fishermen and communities that depend on it.
The MLA is engaged in a four-prong strategy to Save Maine Lobstermen AND right whales.
1. Legal and Policy
The MLA is suing the federal government to stop the 10-year whale plan that will decimate Maine’s lobster industry. MLA has asked the court to fix the plan using accurate science so that we can save right whales without sacrificing the lobster fishery.
2. Science and Data
The MLA is engaging with scientific experts to ensure that the most up to date, cutting-edge science is the basis of any right whale conservation plan. This includes use of state-of-the-art modelling and objective research that will guide effective management decisions.
3. Conservation
The MLA is working with Maine lobstermen to continue efforts to develop innovative gear solutions that protect right whales and support the continuation of Maine’s lobstering heritage.
4. Communications
MLA is building support to ensure the community understands that Maine’s lobstering heritage is at risk and may disappear forever, erasing generations of locally-owned and operated fishing businesses and the economic engine of Maine’s coastal communities.
The Maine Lobstermen’s Association is a 501 (c)(6) organization and contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes as charitable contributions.