Lobster fishers win whale protection case in New England.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Associated Press
A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of lobster fishers and the state of Maine, who oppose new fishing restrictions aimed at protecting the North Atlantic right whale. The restrictions would limit where lobster fishers can fish and what kind of gear they can use to prevent the whales from becoming entangled in fishing ropes. The court's ruling could mean that the federal government must take another stab at crafting new rules to protect the whales. Conservationists argue that the trap lines pose too much of a risk to whales, whose populations have declined in recent years.