6-year pause on new lobster rules is enough

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 11, 2026

In December 2022, at the urging of the Maine delegation, a rider was inserted into the Consolidated Appropriations Act in Congress that halted new North Atlantic right whale entanglement-related federal regulations for the lobster industry until January 2028. With 2028 approaching, Rep. Jared Golden recently supported a bill ( H.R. 8509) that would extend the pause through 2035. This bill is in bad faith, as it both ignores the facts and side steps the Endangered Species and Marine Mammal Protection Acts. Affected lobstermen could have the option to use on-demand gear if they want to continue fishing within a closed area like lobstermen are already doing in other states. Golden is proposing an unnecessary bill. ~ Bill McWeeny, Maine Coalition for North Atlantic Right Whales, Brooksville