Ahead of Attending NOAA Scoping Meeting, Golden Calls on Biden to Uphold Promise to Protect Maine Lobster Fishery

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) sent a letter today to President Biden detailing the repercussions of his failure to protect Maine lobsterman as promised and urging him to oppose the right whale conservation measures currently proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA). The letter was sent in advance of Golden attending this evening’s public scoping meeting held by NOAA in Portland to gather community input to develop modifications to their heavily criticized Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) and its corresponding regulations. 

“Given what we know — and what the data clearly demonstrates — about the low risk of Maine’s lobster fishery relative to other activities in right whale habitat, I cannot comprehend how you can stand idly by and not oppose in the strongest terms a proposal that has the potential to destroy thousands of livelihoods, hundreds of coastal communities, and the economic backbone of our state and the New England region,” wrote Golden in the letter. “Your complicity thus far is a slap in the face to thousands of working people who are confronting the uncertainty of whether or not they can continue to provide for their families, that their communities will survive, and that their children will be able to continue Maine’s long-standing lobstering heritage.”

In 2020, while running for president, Biden pledged “I will work to protect the livelihood and safety of the fishing community” in reference to lobstermen. He has yet to take a single action to make good on that pledge. 

“You cannot espouse being a president for working people while simultaneously overseeing the destruction of an entire blue-collar fishery and its community’s heritage and way of life,” Golden continued. “I implore you to recognize and oppose these proposed right whale conservation measures and to meet with Maine’s congressional delegation as well as leaders of the lobster community to find common sense solutions to ensure that Maine’s lobster and fishing industries and the right whales will survive for generations.”

Since his election to Congress, Golden has been a tireless advocate for the Maine lobster fishery. Following the unsubstantiated and speculative decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to place Maine lobster on their seafood “Red List,” Golden and Senator King introduced a bill would prohibit federal taxpayer funds from going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In the wake of new proposed regulations that would threaten the livelihoods of Maine lobstermen, Golden introduced a bold amendment to block the regulations until the underlying data had undergone a scientific peer review process. He has worked closely with the lobstering community to ensure that they have a voice in the process and that regulations are based on the best available evidence and don’t unfairly target the fishery. To help lobstermen bear the costs of complying with the regulations, Golden introduced legislation that would offset costs and worked with members of the Maine Delegation to secure $17.1 million in funding for the industry in a yearly appropriations bill.  He also led the delegation to urge the president to intervene directly. 

The text of the letter can be found here.

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