Cruz moves Maine lobster bill to extend whale protection pause

The Senate Commerce Committee will vote on legislation next month to extend a moratorium on new North Atlantic right whale protections. The action comes five days before a competitive reelection contest in Maine.

Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Cruz announced on X that the panel will take up the bill. He credited Sen. Susan Collins for driving the measure. Cruz stated he hopes to send the bill to President Trump's desk quickly without changes. The House passed the bill on Sept. 1 by a vote of 219 to 196.

The legislation extends a regulatory pause currently set to expire on Dec. 31, 2028. It would hold the pause in place through 2035. The original moratorium was inserted into a year-end spending package in late 2022. That law appropriated $20 million for innovative fishing gear to reduce entanglement risks. Maine Sen. Angus King and Collins requested the extension in a September letter. They argued the pause allows the Maine Department of Marine Resources to collect necessary data.

Maine's lobster industry supports approximately $2 billion in annual economic activity and 17,500 jobs. Curt Brown, president of Bold Coast Seafood, noted that trap, bait, and fuel prices have risen due to tariffs and inflation. He described current margins as tight. Virginia Olsen, political director for Maine Lobstering Union Local 207, said more time is needed to study new data before imposing stricter rules.

Opponents argue the bill ignores a court ruling finding current regulations insufficient. Dan Moss, senior government relations representative for Defenders of Wildlife, said the measure sidelines a NOAA team established nearly three decades ago. Katherine Sayler, southeast representative for Defenders of Wildlife, noted the population remains far below historical levels. She stated the group is not close to the 500 whales estimated 20 years ago.

NOAA data shows an increase in individual whales since 2020. The 2026 calving season was the largest since the current unusual mortality event began. Jason Joyce, director of advocacy for the New England Fishermen's Stewardship Association, pointed to rising births and falling deaths as evidence for the pause. He said the industry is in a better position than when stricter regulations were first proposed.

Democrats are expected to gain seats in the midterm elections. This could make the bill difficult to pass in the 120th Congress if Collins and Rep. Mike Lawler lose their seats. Lawler, a Republican from New York, co-sponsored the House version with retiring Maine Democrat Jared Golden. Lawler cited his ability to work across the aisle as a reason for the bill's passage in his district.