New regulations from the National Marine Fisheries Service designed to protect right, humpback and fin whales should do more to protect Maine fisherman.
A recent report from the federal Government Accountability Office has found the new rules would be so costly for some fishermen that they could no longer afford to stay in business.
The rules would require lobstermen to switch from floating line to sinking line. The lines would cost most fishermen between $10,000 and $15,000, according to Patrice McCarron, director of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association. That doesn’t include an annual replacement cost of between $5,000 and $8,000.
The rules are designed to protect the whale populations. They are particularly important for right whales, which are nearly extinct, with only 300 still in existence. It’s estimated that three-quarters of the right whale population has scars from entanglements with fishing gear.
While the rules are well intended, they make less sense off the coast of Maine than they do in other coastal areas. Maine’s rocky coast will fray and snap many of these lines, forcing fishermen to replace them more frequently. Also, whales don’t come that close to the shore here. With only about four fleets licensed to fish more than 40 miles offshore, many fishermen would suffer an unnecessary financial hardship.
These rules need to strike a better balance between protecting whales and the livelihoods of Maine fishermen.
Spare state another tax debate
Gov. John Baldacci and his staff are working to come up with a tax relief plan to bring to the Legislature. Meanwhile, a coalition of groups is working to build consensus for a plan that could be placed on the ballot.
While both of these things are in the news again this week, to anyone who’s been following the state’s attempts at reducing and reforming the tax burden, the scenario is all too familiar.
Mainers have rejected Carol Palesky’s tax initiative and the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, and they’ve watched as the Legislature has worked to pass legislation that, while well thought out, has done little to shift the overall tax burden.
Considering the Legislature finished up its most recent session without making any progress on an issue many candidates promised movement on last fall, the governor and legislators shouldn’t put off more work until January. If it takes a special session to get something done, then the governor should call one.
Acting now could save us another statewide debate over a tax relief initiative. More importantly, it could save us all some money and benefit the state’s economy in the long run.
Brendan Moran, editor
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