Maine lobstermen are reportedly quitting amid growing dissatisfaction with new regulations enacted by the state at the beginning of the year.
Regulations by the Atlantic Coast Commission went into effect Jan. 1 and require lobster fishermen to notify authorities through monthly reports about when, where and how they harvest lobsters. WGME report. Many fishermen are reportedly giving up on catching lobsters instead of enduring official scrutiny of the sport.
Maine lobster fishermen say they are frustrated by new rules and regulations being implemented along and near the coast.https://t.co/6Z38ktQ4yN
— CBS 13 News (@WGME) March 28, 2024
Bill Coopersmith, a longtime lobster fisherman, told WGME he stopped fishing the day the new regulations were enacted.
“I’ve been doing this for 43 years, and on New Year’s Day we took the last gear out of the water. And I said, ‘Maybe that’s it,'” Coppersmith said. “There are now too many restrictions to go. It creates more jobs. And we can’t generate any more revenue because of the restrictions they’re imposing here.”
WGME reports that lobstermen in Maine are required to fish with tracking devices on their boats. Five lobstermen reportedly sued the Maine Department of Resources over location tracking requirements, claiming the rule violates their constitutional rights to privacy, equal protection, and due process. according to To NHPR.
“They are an important part of their lives, and they use these vessels for purposes other than commercial lobstering, including commercial operations, personal use, family use, and recreational use.” Attorney Timi Mina referred to the plaintiff’s boat being used for lobster fishing. .
Maine’s lobster industry contributes more than $1 billion to the state’s economy. according to On to Maine Lobster. Nevertheless, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission plans to enact further regulations next year, including a rule requiring lobster fishermen to throw one pound of catch back into the water, WGME reported. (Related: Giant tuna sold for nearly $800,000 at annual auction)
“They think there might be a problem with the lobster population. That’s just not true,” Coppersmith said. “You know, we didn’t have a lot of lobsters last year. We’re going to have fewer pounds. We’re going to work harder to catch them. The price of bait goes up. It’s going to cost a lot more money to go. ”
This isn’t the first time the lobster industry has been embroiled in a legal battle. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in June 2023 that Maine was “grossly wrong” in interpreting the Endangered Species Act to impose costly regulations on lobstermen.
