Golden urges regulators to drop unnecessary new ropeless lobster gear proposal
WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) is urging the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC) to abandon a proposed regulatory framework that would push Maine lobstermen toward using costly, unproven ropeless or on-demand gear.
The framework, independent of ongoing work authorized by Congress to study the necessity and viability of such gear, would greenlight its use in some or all federal waters off the coast of New England. The NEFMC will consider it at its upcoming meeting on September 25.
In a Monday letter to NEFMC’s executive Director, Dr. Cate O’Keefe, Golden called the proposal “premature and unnecessary” and noted that it flies in the face of Congress’s clear intent in pausing these kinds of regulatory changes until 2028.
“Maine’s lobstermen are facing tremendous uncertainty, with various agencies operating in parallel considering new regulations that would fundamentally alter what it looks like to haul traps off the coast of Maine,” Golden said. “Congress enacted a moratorium on requiring this kind of gear, and that moratorium is still in effect while more data is gathered and studied. This framework, if adopted, would muddy the waters about what is required of Maine’s harvesters, and there’s no need for it.”
Congress’ 2023 budget included a provision championed by Golden and the rest of Maine’s federal delegation that paused the development of new gear requirements until 2028. The law also empowered the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (TRT) by giving it more time to determine what new regulations — if any — are needed. Work is already underway at the federal and state levels to compile and assess relevant data and craft solutions.
“If adopted, the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework would not only undermine the TRT process and confuse fishery stakeholders, but it would also defy the explicit will of Congress,” Golden wrote in his letter.
Maine fishermen have consistently raised concerns about the viability of ropeless and on-demand gear, including a lack of reliable testing, the lack of interoperability between various manufacturers of ropeless systems, and the high cost it would require of the small, independent businesses that make up Maine’s lobster industry.
“Forcing unproven ropeless gear onto our industry without reliable testing, interoperability or regard for safety would devastate small operators and coastal communities,” said Dustin Delano, chief strategist of policy and operations at the New England Fisheries Stewardship Association. “NEFSA stands with Congressman Golden in calling on the Council to respect congressional intent and reject this framework. Our fishermen deserve regulations rooted in sound science and practical realities, not politically driven experiments that threaten the survival of America’s historic fisheries.”
The Maine Lobstering Union Local 207 also opposed the NEFMC's proposed framework.
"There are still so many questions about this technology, but there's one thing we know for sure: If we had to adopt it today, it would put Maine fishermen out of business," said Ginny Olsen, executive liaison and political director of the Maine Lobstering Union.
Golden’s letter is included in full below, and can also be found here.
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Dr. Cate O’Keefe
Executive Director
New England Fisheries Management Council
50 Water Street, Mill 2
Newburyport, MA 01950
Dear Dr. O’Keefe,
I am writing to share my strong opposition to the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework (Framework) that will be considered by the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC) at its September 25th meeting. This premature and unnecessary proposal ignores congressional intent and could adversely impact the livelihoods of thousands of Maine fishermen that I represent.
As you are aware, Congress, through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (P.L. 117-328), paused the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) until December 31, 2028. This provision was included out of the dire need to preserve the existence of our nation’s lobster fishery and to provide both state and federal regulators with more time to improve the data that informs the future management of this resource. In response to this congressional directive, the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (TRT) delayed its own process until 2026, with no new rulemaking expected before 2028 in order to fully incorporate additional science and analyses. If adopted, the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework would not only undermine the TRT process and confuse fishery stakeholders, but it would also defy the explicit will of Congress.
Additionally, it appears to me that this Framework pushes the lobster fishery into utilizing ropeless or on-demand fishing gear despite the lack of reliable testing of this technology and potential risks to crew safety. There are also numerous outstanding issues raised by fishermen regarding gear reliability and the potential for conflicts between the lobster industry and other fisheries that will not use this same gear but occupy the same waters. The technology does not yet exist to enable interoperability between the various manufacturers of these ropeless systems, and the excessive replacement costs that small operators would incur to replace lost equipment have yet to be addressed. In an industry already struggling with narrow financial margins and regulatory uncertainty, these are not trivial concerns. Absent more robust testing and input from fishing stakeholders, adopting the Framework could put thousands of fishermen out of business and destroy the communities along Maine’s coast whose economies depend on a viable fishery.
For these reasons, I urge you to reject the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework and instead adopt Alternative 1A. Doing so will ensure that the NEFMC is adhering to congressional intent and reassure the fishing industry that you will pursue an approach that is grounded in sound science and the lived realities of those whose livelihoods would be most impacted.
I appreciate your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Jared F. Golden
Member of Congress