Maine lobster defamation suit hits choppy waters

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 1, 2026

The Maine lobster industry’s defamation lawsuit against a California aquarium that red-listed the fishery as a threat to an endangered whale took a hit this week in federal court, with judges voicing skepticism over the industry’s legal arguments. During oral arguments, a three-judge panel questioned whether an industry of 5,600 members can legally claim libel over scientific opinions publicized by the Monterey Bay Aquarium about the rope-based fishery’s impact on the endangered North Atlantic right whale. The judges’ pointed questions suggest the industry faces a steep climb to keep its legal challenge alive in the appeals court.