Can The Lobster Industry Save Right Whales?
This spring, we’ve begun a debate series here at Nature Links. Each week, we choose a nature-related topic we’d like to learn more about. Ideally, it is a current and relevant topic with two (or more) viewpoints. Our goal is not to argue with one another about what is right, but instead, learn as much as possible about the topic through research and by sharing our opinions with one another.
We began our series with a debate that has very local implications here in Maine. The North Atlantic right whale is a species in decline. With only about 330 remaining, efforts are being put in place to protect the vulnerable right whale from extinction. But these protections, some say, unfairly place the burden for the whale’s protection on the lobster industry here in Maine. Since right whales are vulnerable to lethal entanglement in lobster ropes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration set limits last year on the number of rope lines that can be used to connect buoys and lobster traps. They also require fishermen and women to use weaker rope that can break if an animal does become entangled. Finally, further limits were put in place on the areas where fishing trap rope can be used at all.
Spokespeople for Maine’s lobster industry, a $1.4 billion operation that employs more than 4,000 people across the state, say they too are dedicated to protecting whales. But many argue there is little evidence that entanglements in Maine’s fishing rope are truly the source of the species’ decline (this article says otherwise, though). They maintain that further regulations placed on fishing have the potential to threaten the livelihood of fishermen and the many Maine communities supported by lobstering.
One solution proposed is ropeless fishing gear, a new technology that allows traps to be lifted via a smartphone. This “on demand” type of fishing eliminates the need for ropes at all, therefore leading to fewer threats to right whales. But these traps cost around $4,000 each compared to current traps which cost somewhere between $80-$100. This cost, many argue, is just too much for the small business owners that make up the majority of the lobster industry to bear.
At Nature Links, this was a personal issue for some. While many of our participants are from here in Maine, a few members even personal experience with fishing and/or family members who have been employed by the lobster industry. Nevertheless, we were able to learn about both sides of the argument and participants respectfully made their positions known. Here’s what they had to say:
My opinion is that the fishermen should have to buy new equipment. The world is a changing place. They need to meet the standards of today’s society.
My opinion is lobster fishermen should not have to buy new equipment to protect right whales themselves - as mentioned previously they are trying to make a living and are small business owners and with the pandemic trying to survive. 90% of small business go out of business fail. So you are taking away their living and taking away their income. I think the government should help to make the occupation more sustainable and support the community so everyone can thrive.
We should protect the whales at all costs. When right whales go extinct, there is nothing you can do to bring them back. So we need to do whatever we can do to save them.
My Opinion is we should save all the Whales and all of the Lobsters. Making sure that there are petitions to stop animal violence.
The government should give grants to fishermen (especially those who make less money) to help them purchase new ropeless equipment. The equipment is expensive and they shouldn’t have to pay for that on their own. We need to protect right whales, but the government should help pay for equipment that will allow lobster fishermen to do that.
What do you think? How much should the lobster industry have to adapt to save right whales? Who should bear the burden of the costs behind saving these whales? As we continue our debate series this spring, I’m looking forward to more respectful conversation on all sides of the nature-related issues we take on.
