Appellate Court Halts Federal Lobster Fishing Restrictions Aimed at Protecting Endangered Whales

Federal appeals court sides with commercial fishermen opposing restrictions to protect North Atlantic right whale
Proposed restrictions aim to limit where lobster fishers can fish and what kind of gear they can use to prevent whale entanglement
Appeals court ruling could mean federal government must craft new rules to protect whales
Lobster fishing industry in Maine could be severely impacted by new restrictions
North Atlantic right whale populations have declined in recent years and face multiple threats, including entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with large ships.