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When Congress passed a $1.7 trillion spending bill at the end of the 2022 legislative session that included a shady amendment favoring Maine's lobster industry that delays the requirement for it to comply with whale-safe fishing gear. Now the lobster-killing industry gets to continue killing an endangered species for an extra six years. Tell these Maine lawmakers that they made a serious mistake by prioritizing the financial gains of the lobster industry over the survival of critically endangered right whales.

Scientists estimate that fewer than 350 North Atlantic right whales are left in the world. While they face a host of threats, ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear are believed to be the biggest threats to their survival. Entanglement in lobster fishing gear can lead to drowning or a slow painful death from injuries or starvation.

In 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) created a new regulation to prevent whales from entanglement in fishing lines, including implementing ropeless lobster fishing gear. Several environmental organizations argued that these restrictions were not strong enough, and last summer a federal judge agreed, ruling that NOAA must write a new rule by 2024.

In October, NOAA also took measures to amend the vessel speed rule to prevent boats from colliding with whales. We requested the speed rule amendment go further in protecting right whales by enforcing more stringent speed restrictions over a broader area.

A group of lawmakers in Maine included a provision in the recently passed government spending bill that will delay the lobster fishing industry's compliance with NOAA's new rule until at least 2028. Under this new rule, lobster fishermen can continue using fishing gear that can harm whales for the next six years.

Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden wrote the add-on to the government spending bill. Maine Governor Janet Mills also supported it.

Not only did these lawmakers doom right whales to painful, unnecessary deaths and the extinction of their very species, but they also prioritized an industry that perpetuates incredible cruelty to lobsters, who are captured from the wild, mutilated, and live-shipped across the country. They are usually boiled alive while they are still conscious, despite the fact that it's been proven they are capable of experiencing severe pain and have complicated senses and feelings. Lobsters have complex social skills and methods of communication, and they can live to be over 100 years old.

Maine's congressional senators and representatives made a grave error in prioritizing lobster fishing, an industry that in itself perpetuates animal suffering, at the expense of one of the world's most endangered whales.

Letter to decision maker(s) for reference:

Subject: I’m Extremely Disappointed In Your Actions Which Guarantee the Extinction of North Atlantic Right Whales

I am writing to let you know how disappointed I am about the recently passed federal government spending bill amendment that you five legislators are responsible for adding to the spending bill that delays requirements to comply with the whale-safe fishing gear for another six years. This comes despite a federal judge ruling that the 2021 NOAA regulations were not nearly strict enough to prevent these whales’ extinction. 
 
Scientists estimate that fewer than 350 North Atlantic right whales are left in the world. At a time when it is more crucial than ever to protect these animals, you have chosen to prioritize the lobster industry instead, potentially dooming the species to extinction. Lobster fishing lines can entangle North Atlantic right whales, resulting in severe injury and death. Whales entangled in fishing gear have difficulty swimming and often cannot surface to breathe. They can also starve when the lines wrap around their mouths.
 
Not only will right whales be severely affected, but the amendment prioritizes an industry that perpetuates cruelty to lobsters. Lobsters are captured from the wild, mutilated, and live-shipped across the country. They are boiled alive while they are still conscious. Lobsters have been proven capable of experiencing pain and have complicated senses and feelings. Lobsters have complex social skills and methods of communication, and they can live to be over one hundred years old.
 
To conclude, I believe you made a grave error by prioritizing lobster fishing, an industry that perpetuates animal suffering, at the grave expense of one of the world's most endangered whale species. Please consider your future decisions to ensure they prioritize ethics and the protection of North Atlantic right whales. 
 
Thank you for your sincere consideration.

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.