PORTLAND, Maine - A group representing Maine’s lobstermen says it’s now willing to work with the federal government on a plan to protect right whales after withdrawing its support for the plan this summer. A federal plan that’s being developed to help save the whales would remove miles of lobster trap rope from the waters off Maine. However, the statement also says the lobstermen still think the whale plan focuses too much on new restrictions for their industry. “We were always committed to finding ways to make our fisheries safer for right whales,” McCarron said. The right whales dwindled in population during the whaling era and have suffered high mortality and poor reproduction in recent years.

Source: thestar October 20, 2019 15:00 UTC