The Maine lobster fishery is temporarily losing its Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification amid an ongoing dispute over the fishery’s impact on right whales.
In a statement, the Maine Certified Sustainable Lobster Association (MCSLA) said the certification will be suspended due to a recent decision in the federal case Center for Biological Diversity v. Ross.
“The certificate suspension is occurring despite continued sustainable management of the Maine lobster fishery and remains the direct result of NOAA’s 2014 biological opinion on the impact that lobster fishing has on right whales,” it said.
