The feds are shellin’ out thousands and thousands of {dollars} to the Bay State for brand spanking new lobster fishing gear within the hopes of defending North Atlantic proper whales.
The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Marine Fisheries on Friday introduced that it’ll obtain greater than $4.6 million from a congressional appropriation to spice up DMF’s conservation program for the endangered North Atlantic proper whale.
DMF will use a part of this funding from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to offer new lobster fishing gear that’s designed to guard proper whales.
Massachusetts near-shore waters host as much as 80% of the overall inhabitants of North Atlantic proper whales in late winter and early spring — because the whales migrate north and feed within the nutrient-rich waters of Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay. The two biggest threats for the endangered species are entanglements in fishing gear and vessel strikes, based on advocates.
“We have a special responsibility to help these endangered animals, and to promote innovative measures to support whale recovery and Massachusetts’ important lobster industry,” stated Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper.
“These funds are particularly beneficial to the small boat fishers who contribute so much to our economy, food security, and heritage of Massachusetts coastal communities,” Tepper added.
The thousands and thousands of {dollars} will assist with creating progressive fishing gear applied sciences, and growing ongoing analysis and monitoring. As a part of a five-year program, DMF anticipates receiving greater than $23 million from NOAA Fisheries, topic to annual congressional appropriations.
DMF has put collectively a spending plan for 2024, allocating $2.8 million for proper whale analysis and monitoring; $1.1 million for on-demand gear analysis; and $472,000 for lobster gear for use by lobster fishers to cut back entanglement dangers.
“This funding will provide critical assistance to the Commonwealth’s dual efforts to both protect the North Atlantic right whale and help innovate our fishing industry to develop safer fishing methods,” stated Duxbury Rep. Josh Cutler.
The funding will help Massachusetts’ lobster business and different lure fisheries as they adapt to present and new laws that might be developed by NOAA Fisheries and DMF by December 2028, to guard proper whales, and adjust to the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea stated, “We are very grateful to Massachusetts lobster fishers who have sacrificed and worked with us in implementing a closed season, the use of modified rope, and other important measures to protect right whales.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”