Officials confirm 1st case of Maine lobster gear causing the death of endangered right whale

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 2, 2024

Federal officials confirmed Wednesday that an endangered North Atlantic right whale found dead near Martha’s Vineyard in January died from “chronic entanglement” in fishing gear that belonged to a Maine lobsterman. It’s the first time a member of Maine’s iconic industry has been directly connected to a whale death, and it could have major implications for how lobstermen fish in the future.