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The
threat to a rare whale species from getting tangled in fishing
gear has prompted Monterey Bay Aquarium in California to caution
against eating a variety of lobster that New England fishermen
have harvested for centuries.
Seafood Watch, a conservation program operated by the aquarium,
placed lobster from the U.S. and Canada on its do-not-eat “red
list” in 2022. Some retailers pulled lobster from stores after
the recommendation.
Judge John Woodcock ruled last month that the fishermen made a
case that they suffered damage to their industry's reputation as
a result of the red-listing, after the aquarium made a bid in
U.S. District Court in Maine to have the 2023 lawsuit tossed. A
spokesperson for the aquarium said Monday the institution filed
an appeal, but Woodcock's ruling means the lawsuit is moving
forward.
“Reputation and goodwill cannot be adequately replaced through
awarding damages and this injury lingers as long as the ‘red
listing’ does,” Woodcock wrote.
The lobster industry, based largely in Maine, is one of the most
lucrative fisheries in the U.S., valued at more than half a
billion dollars at the docks last year. Entanglement in lobster
gear is also one of the most significant threats to the North
Atlantic right whale, which numbers less than 400.
The aquarium has a right to communicate its recommendations to
the public, said Emerson Brown, the spokesperson for the
aquarium. Brown said the aquarium appealed "to protect our
ability to share critical information with the public.”
The Maine Lobstermen's Association, one of the groups that filed
the lawsuit, described Woodcock's decision as “significant” in a
statement.
“Maine lobstermen have been stewards of the ocean for
generations, and we are committed to defending our livelihood
against baseless claims," said Patrice McCarron, executive
director of the association.
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