The photo is of a right whale entangled in fishing gear. The right whale issue has been very controversial in Maine. I support the right whale and Maine’s lobster industry. We can have both.
Unfortunately the lobster industry has been fighting changes to help save the right whale. Maine’s government has sided with and pandered to the industry. As governor, I will take the position that Maine’s lobster industry must take appropriate actions to prevent the entanglement of all whales. Doing so will not end Maine’s lobster fishing industry. Failing to do so will contribute to the extinction of a species.
Maine’s fishing industry has a long history of boom and bust resource extraction. The State of Maine has failed to adequately regulate our marine resources as evidenced by their extensive depletion. For example, overfishing has resulted in the near death of Maine’s recreational fishery for species such as mackerel, flounder and pollock.
As governor, I will support taking action to restore Maine’s marine resources. Such actions will include promoting dam removals to restore anadromous fish species such as salmon, shad, and alewife, establishing conservation areas closed to all fishing to promote stock recovery, and taking appropriate actions to minimize bycatch. I will also support the conduct of research to assess the impacts of climate change on Maine tidal waters and the marine species that inhabit them.
As governor, I will not pander to anyone. My primary goals with regard to our marine resources will be to protect and enhance them to maximize their health and abundance while promoting a healthy fishing industry and increased opportunities for recreational anglers. .
