PORTLAND, Maine, Nov. 28,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- An ongoing legal dispute between
environmental activists and the federal government has led Maine
Lobster's Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) fishing certification to
be suspended.
An independent auditor conducted a comprehensive evaluation of
the fishery earlier this year and determined that Maine Lobster is
a well-managed and sustainable fishery according to MSC fisheries
standards. Shortly after this assessment, a court ruled that
regulations issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service to
govern the management of North American right whales (NARW) do not
meet the requirements of federal laws to protect endangered
species. As a result of this court ruling, while the industry has
complied with all regulations in good faith, the independent
auditor suspended the MSC certificate of the fishery.
MSC reinforced these findings in their certification
announcement noting that "in the most recent assessment by the
assessor, no evidence was found that the Maine lobster fishery is responsible for
entanglements or interactions with right whales."
Industry voices and sustainability leaders are reassuring
consumers about Maine Lobster's sustainability. Maine Lobster
has a decades-long track record of adopting proactive changes to
promote environmental safety and to protect the whales. As a
result, since 2004, no NARW entanglement has been attributed to
Maine Lobster gear, and no NARW death or serious injury has ever
been attributed to Maine Lobster.
"Maine lobster has always
been sustainable and that hasn't changed with the recent
announcement from MSC," said Steve
Kingston, owner of The Clam Shack in Kennebunk, Maine. "I will continue to proudly
stand by Maine Lobster, and would encourage retailers, buyers, and
patrons to educate themselves on the nuances of these
decisions."
Maine lobstermen continue to
work with scientists and other stakeholders to find data-driven
solutions to keep their fishery at the forefront of sustainability.
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute continues to verify Maine
Lobster with its Gulf of Maine Responsibly
Harvested® label.
For more information on the industry's efforts to protect right
whales, please visit www.rightwhalesandmainelobster.com.
About the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative
The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC), founded in
2013, is funded by Maine Lobster harvesters, dealers, and
processors to grow demand, both for whole live lobster and a
variety of value-added products. The MLMC supports that objective
by promoting the core values of the Maine Lobster industry,
including sustainability and traceability, that's deeply rooted in
the fishery's multi-generational tradition.
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SOURCE Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative