Lobstermen get stern warning after endangered whales spotted

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(PORTSMOUTH, NH) – A stern warning has been issued for those who fish for lobster off of the coast of Maine and New Hampshire. 

Earlier this week, there were 75 endangered North Atlantic right whales seen near Portsmouth. 

What makes that a big deal? 75 of those whales represent 20 percent of the remaining population of the species. 

The lobstermen are being strongly urged to remove their gear from the vicinity, or face serious repercussions. 

The Maine Department of Marine Resources issued a statement calling it “catastrophic” to a small business if lobster gear is found on a dead whale. 

“I don't have to tell you that within the last year, Maine gear was found for the first time on a deceased right whale. The ramifications of another entanglement in Maine gear could be devastating to your fishery,” Maine DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher said. 

The statement warns that a violator could face serious federal ramifications and other penalties. 

“Given the close attention being paid to these whales, there is potential for any entanglement that might occur to be linked not just to the Maine fishery, but potentially to an individual fisherman,” he added. 

Federal officials believe the global population of North American right whales is only around 370, with 70 of those believed to be reproductively-active females.