"Don't Eat Lobster to Protect Whales" [Reading Science]

Fewer than 300 North Atlantic Right Whales Remain Endangered
7.7 Whales Killed Annually in Lobster Fishing
International Fisheries Watchdog Calls for Stricter Regulations

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "To protect whales, do not eat lobster." Lobster dishes, one of the most popular seafood among Americans, have emerged as the enemy of whale enthusiasts. North Atlantic right whales, which are endangered, are losing their lives after getting entangled in the nets and ropes used in lobster fishing or colliding with fishing vessels.

According to the American daily newspaper The New York Times on the 13th (local time), the international fisheries monitoring organization 'Seafood Watch' recently issued a statement saying, "Lobster is a delicious food loved and enjoyed by many, but it can no longer be a sustainable seafood product and should not be eaten." According to the organization, the already rapidly declining population of North Atlantic right whales is facing extinction due to deaths caused by entanglement in ropes of nets set by fishermen to catch lobsters or collisions with fishing boats. Annually, 7.7 whales are sacrificed due to human causes, of which 5.7 die from entanglement in fishing gear and the remaining 2.0 die from vessel strikes. In fact, U.S. federal authorities recently reported that the population of North Atlantic right whales has dropped below 350 and is on the brink of extinction.

The North Atlantic right whale is a mammal of the order Cetacea, family Balaenidae, measuring 14 to 17 meters in length and weighing 39 to 70 tons. They are gentle and often stay near the coast to find food, which made them targets of whaling, causing their population to plummet. Scientists consider ocean warming as the main cause of the recent extinction threat. Warm water flows into their summer habitat, the Gulf of Maine, reducing the number of small crustaceans, their primary food source. As a result, North Atlantic right whales leave safe areas to find food and suffer accidents.

Accordingly, the organization recommends consumers choose Florida lobster instead of North Atlantic lobsters, including those from the Gulf of Maine, to protect whales. They also urge fisheries authorities and Congress to strengthen protections for North Atlantic right whales. Mark Baumgartner, a senior researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, said, "Consumers need to be well aware of the impact of the fishing gear used to catch the seafood they eat," adding, "If people realize that right whales are endangered due to ropes used in lobster fishing, demands for solutions will become stronger."

The U.S. government is also strengthening protective measures. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has stated that to prevent the extinction of North Atlantic right whales, fishing-related harm must be reduced to fewer than one whale per year. Since 2021, a law has been enforced requiring the use of weak ropes that can be easily broken even if whales get entangled when catching lobsters in U.S. waters. However, protection groups criticize the regulation as too weak to be effective.

On the other hand, fishermen and seafood companies who catch lobsters feel unfairly treated. Steve Train, who has been catching lobsters in the Gulf of Maine using the same method for over 40 years, told The New York Times, "No fisherman wants to harm whales," and appealed, "Most lobster fishermen comply with regulations from fisheries authorities and the federal government and have no reason to be held responsible for the decline in North Atlantic right whale populations."

Some suggest using rope-free gear, as used in Australia, as an alternative. However, the cost, ranging from $2,000 to $4,000, is a major obstacle compared to existing gear costing $50 to $180. Although a bill to provide subsidies has been submitted by the Democratic Party, it remains uncertain whether it will pass Congress.