MAINE LOBSTERMEN’S ASSOCIATION, INC. v. NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, GINA RAIMONDO, in her official capacity as Secretary of Commerce, JANET COIT, in her official capacity as Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
Maine lobster fishers have filed suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service alleging the agency violated the Endangered Species Act and Administrative Procedure Act “by substantially overestimating the effects of the American Lobster Fishery, including the Maine lobster fishery, on the North Atlantic right whale and by imposing unnecessary and inappropriate conservation targets and restrictions on the Maine lobster fishery.” The Maine Lobstermen’s Association argues that NMFS’ mandate of an additional 98% reduction in the injury and mortality to Atlantic right whales would put most of Maine’s lobster fishers out of business. They seek declaratory and injunctive relief.
[To accompany Federal Case Law Update "Lobster Fishers Sue NMFS over Rule to Prevent Entanglement of Right Whales" from Brooks Animal Law Digest Issue No. 106.]