MAINE PUBLIC • March 23, 2023
Maine lawmakers are considering a new bill that would extend the lobster legal defense fund for another five years. The fund was created last year to help the industry fight legal battles against federal rules aimed at protecting endangered right whales, but the latest proposal has revived debate about where the money should come from. The funds, paid for through existing surcharges on lobster licenses, would be split between the Maine Lobstermen's Association and the Maine Lobstering Union. The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative opposes the new bill, because it too relies on license surcharges to support its own operating budget. But Patrick Keliher, commissioner of Maine's Department of Marine Resources, said devoting general funds to the industry's legal battles, could set a concerning new precedent.