Protect Our Fishing Future
New whale rules are coming.
What’s this all about?
Most of us have never seen a right whale, and encounters are rare, but they happen. When whale deaths exceed what the population can sustain (as established by law), additional measures are needed to reduce risk to whales. That’s why new regulations are coming. We’re going to need your voice to make sure they’re the right kind of regulations.
Why did this come back?
In 2022, Maine’s representatives secured a 6-year pause on new whale rules. The pause gave us time to increase monitoring, better understand where risk is highest, and come up with workable solutions. But that pause isn’t permanent. The laws are still in effect, and the clock is running out. New rules will be proposed in 2027 and on the books by January 1, 2029. That’s sooner than it looks. These rules need to be based in reality so they can work for everyone. That’s where you come in.
Who’s making these decisions?
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is required to listen to the Take Reduction Team or TRT, which is made up of fishing industry representatives, conservationists, scientists, and federal and state managers, including DMR. They need to hear from you to know what works and what doesn’t. Your on-the-water knowledge matters.
What’s coming?
The TRT is scheduled to start meeting this Fall, and proposed rules will be developed late this winter. That means it’s time to weigh in now. Everything is on the table. We have new ways of seeing what’s in the ocean and this can translate to new approaches. But DMR and Maine’s fishing industry TRT representatives can only push for practical solutions if they know what works on the water—and what doesn’t. The process may move much faster than previous rounds of TRT regulations, so your industry and DMR representatives need your input early. Get informed, and get ready.
When should we be ready?
Now is the time to talk to each other, get to your Zone meetings, and make sure you know what’s fact and what’s rumor. We’re here to help. We’ll be posting meetings here, and you can always reach out to DMR and to organizations like the MLA, MLU, and NEFSA to get the scoop on when, where, and how to show up.
