Biden Destroys Another Thriving Industry With New Rules

In the ever more invasive effort to save every last species on the planet, the Democrats really don’t care about livelihoods or industries lost. They simply don’t. For decades, environmental regulations have made a mess of the timber industry, fishing, and more. Now, to save some species of whale, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has put out new rules for lobster fishing in the Gulf of Maine that the fishermen are none too happy about.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday released a new set of rules for New England’s lobster fishery aimed at reducing the risk to critically endangered North Atlantic right whales and other whale species. Scientists believe there are only about 360 right whales left worldwide, so the species has become a flashpoint between environmentalists, federal regulators, and fishermen because of their tendency to become entangled in fishing gear.

The new rules will allow lobstermen to string more traps on a single rope – reducing the number of “vertical lines” in the water but potentially making trap lines more dangerous, fishermen contend – while requiring weaker ropes to allow entangled whales to break free. Lobster and crab fishermen also will have to add state-specific color markings to gear.

The prohibition against the use of traditional, rope-and-buoy lobster traps in the newly restricted federal waters off midcoast Maine occurs at a time of year when lobster often fetch the most money per pound. According to federal officials, the closure will directly impact roughly 60 lobstermen in the restricted area and another 60 who might be impacted by the others relocating, but not the vast majority of lobstermen who fish closer to shore.

And in the midst of a pandemic ravaged economy that is not booming by any means to boot.

Maine GOP Chair Dr. Demi Kouzounas released the following statement…

“For over a year we’ve been warning Janet Mills and Jared Golden that Biden and NOAA would destroy Maine lobstering,” said Chair Dr. Demi Kouzounas. “Today’s terrible decision to ban lobstering in much of the Gulf of Maine during its most lucrative season will destroy the industry and decimate local economies who have relied on lobstering for generations.”
“Janet Mills and Jared Golden must put a stop to this madness. Will they stand up for the people of Maine, or once again bend the knee to the failing Biden/Harris administration?”