Massachusetts is getting a hefty $4.6 million cash injection to aid the endangered North Atlantic right whale and to give a leg up to the state's lobster industry, officials announced Thursday. In a move showing the Commonwealth's commitment to marine life and local economies, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) received the federal funds via Congress and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, with an additional $475,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to further enhance conservation measures, according to Mass.gov.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper highlighted the significance of the funding for small boat fishers and the ecosystem, noting in a statement obtained by Mass.gov, "We have a special responsibility to help these endangered animals, and to promote innovative measures to support whale recovery and Massachusetts' important lobster industry." Tepper further emphasized the importance of the state's coastal waters, which provide crucial feeding grounds for the whales during certain times of the year.
DMF is set to receive over $23 million by the end of 2028 from NOAA Fisheries, pending annual Congressional approvals. This fund is part of a broader 5-year national program aimed at ensuring the survival of the critically endangered species and bolstering the lobster industry as it navigates new regulations designed to protect the whales. Through this program, vital research and monitoring efforts will be ramped up and innovative fishing gear technologies will be developed, with the hopes of reducing the risk of whale entanglements.
Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Tom O'Shea praised local lobster fishers for their cooperation in conservation efforts. In a statement obtained by Mass.gov, O'Shea said, "We are very grateful to Massachusetts lobster fishers who have sacrificed and worked with us in implementing a closed season, the use of modified rope, and other important measures to protect right whales." These measures, along with others detailed in the spending plan laid out by the DMF, aim to strike a balance between species protection and the continuation of traditional industries.
As the Commonwealth gears up to adhere to the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, the appropriation will be crucial. Massachusetts is no stranger to right whale protective measures and claims some of the strictest state regulations in the country. The funding is expected to enhance the DMF's abilities to monitor the right whale population and reduce fishing gear entanglement risks. The plan outlines over $2.8 million for research, $1.1 million for gear research, and nearly half a million dollars to help the lobster industry transition to whale-friendly practices. With this multifaceted approach, the DMF aims to preserve both the marine giants and the long-standing fishing traditions of Massachusetts. For more details on DMF's protection efforts, visit their webpage.
