Lobster fishermen can sue environmental group for defamation, judge says

A national tribunal has ruled that a radical of fishermen tin writer 1 of the world’s largest seafood watchdog groups for defamation for publishing a study that described Maine lobster arsenic an unwise prime for consumers

SCARBOROUGH, Maine -- SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) —

A radical of lobster fishermen tin writer 1 of the world’s largest seafood watchdog groups for defamation, a national tribunal has ruled, implicit a study that described Maine lobster arsenic an unwise prime for consumers.

The menace to a uncommon whale taxon from getting tangled successful sportfishing cogwheel has prompted Monterey Bay Aquarium successful California to caution against eating a assortment of lobster that New England fishermen person harvested for centuries.

Seafood Watch, a conservation programme operated by the aquarium, placed lobster from the U.S. and Canada connected its do-not-eat “red list” successful 2022. Some retailers pulled lobster from stores aft the recommendation.

Judge John Woodcock ruled past period that the fishermen made a lawsuit that they suffered harm to their industry's estimation arsenic a effect of the red-listing, aft the aquarium made a bid successful U.S. District Court successful Maine to person the 2023 suit tossed. A spokesperson for the aquarium said Monday the instauration filed an appeal, but Woodcock's ruling means the suit is moving forward.

“Reputation and goodwill cannot beryllium adequately replaced done awarding damages and this wounded lingers arsenic agelong arsenic the ‘red listing’ does,” Woodcock wrote.

The lobster industry, based mostly successful Maine, is 1 of the astir lucrative fisheries successful the U.S., valued astatine much than fractional a cardinal dollars astatine the docks past year. Entanglement successful lobster gear is besides 1 of the astir important threats to the North Atlantic close whale, which numbers little than 400.

The aquarium has a close to pass its recommendations to the public, said Emerson Brown, the spokesperson for the aquarium. Brown said the aquarium appealed "to support our quality to stock captious accusation with the public.”

The Maine Lobstermen's Association, 1 of the groups that filed the lawsuit, described Woodcock's determination arsenic “significant” successful a statement.

“Maine lobstermen person been stewards of the water for generations, and we are committed to defending our livelihood against baseless claims," said Patrice McCarron, enforcement manager of the association.