A North Atlantic right whale discovered dead off Martha's Vineyard in January was confirmed to have died due to entanglement in Maine lobster fishing gear, as reported by federal authorities this week. This endangered species is in critical decline, with fewer than 360 left, exacerbating the ongoing discussion on regulating fishing practices in the area. A necropsy revealed the whale suffered from "chronic entanglement," with gear found to be consistent with equipment used in Maine's lobster industry, according to NOAA.
The lethal threat posed by ropes connecting lobster traps to buoys is not unfamiliar, yet Kristen Monsell of the Center for Biological Diversity highlighted it as a "horrendous fate" often faced by these marine giants. Despite the incident, the Maine Lobstermen's Association clarifies that entanglement with Maine gear is rare, noting, "This is the first reported entanglement of a right whale in Maine lobster gear in 20 years." They affirmed that adjustments had been made over the past 25 years to mitigate such risks.
The whale population has plummeted by around 25% from 2010 to 2020, with increasing threats owing to shifting food sources due to warming waters. Environmentalists and scientists stress the heightened vulnerability of these whales, which now migrate outside protected zones leading to escalated risk of entanglements and collisions. The incident has intensified the debate between environmental groups and commercial fishermen regarding the regulation and impact of lobster fishing on the endangered right whale. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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