Entanglements in fishing gear are a leading cause of death for critically endangered right whales. Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission taken under NOAA research permit 15488
September 2, 2026 (Boston, MA) – The Senate is poised to vote on the so-called “Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026,” a misguided bill that would put off desperately needed regulations to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales from deadly fishing gear entanglements until 2035. The House of Representatives has already passed the bill, which was championed by U.S. Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Mike Lawler of New York. Other New England members voting this bill forward include Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, and Reps. Chris Pappas and Maggie Goodlander, both of New Hampshire.
“This legislation threatens the future of right whales,” said Erica Fuller, senior counsel at Conservation Law Foundation. “Entanglements in fishing gear are a leading cause of death for these critically endangered whales. Punting crucial protections almost a decade down the line will condemn many whales to preventable and painful deaths. If the Senate passes this bill, they will be sacrificing whales’ lives to provide short term economic benefits to an industry that could be participating in solutions that benefit both. We need the Senate to vote down this terrible bill.”
Since 2022, Congress has allowed the U.S. lobster fishery to violate the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act while it funds solutions to address deadly entanglements. CLF has campaigned to make it easier and more accessible for fishermen to adopt gear that’s safer for whales, but much of the fishery pushes for delays rather than try innovative gear. With fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales left swimming off our shores, better fishing gear regulations are absolutely essential to their continued survival.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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