In response to a request from U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) today reversed its decision to establish a Dynamic Area Management (DAM) zone in an area off the coast of Machias after a recent sighting of endangered Northern right whales in the area.
Senator Collins wrote to Dr. William Hogarth, Assistant Administrator, earlier this week after learning that NMFS’s decision would have devastating consequences for local lobstermen and Maine’s lobster industry.
“I am pleased that officials at National Marine Fisheries Service listened to the concerns of the lobstermen who would have been severely affected by the agency’s decision to essentially shut down prime fishing ground during the peak of the lobster fishing season,” said Senator Collins. “I appreciate that NMFS responded as quickly as possible to my request to conduct an immediate aerial surveillance of the area to ensure the accuracy of its original sighting data.”
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