Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program, which last year downgraded the sustainability rating of Maine-caught lobster from “yellow” to “red,” encouraging consumers to avoid purchasing the product, continue to stand by its decision amid an ongoing lawsuit with several Maine lobster groups over the fallout.
On Aug. 24, lawyers for Monterey Bay said in a reply filed with a US District Court of Maine that lobster group plaintiffs, including the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) and the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, have no case for libel in their demand for the NGO to remove the red listing and statements about Maine lobster "deemed defamatory from its website."
