March 6, 2008
D.C. law firm takes on lobster gear case
A heavyweight Washington, D.C., law firm has joined Maine's lobster industry in a fight against a federal directive to change to using whale-friendly rope.
At last weekend's Maine Fishermen's Forum in Rockland, the Maine Lobstermen's Association announced that Beltway firm Hogan & Hartson will represent the state's lobstermen against a recent rule change that requires the use of sinking rope, according to the Ellsworth American. Maine lobstermen currently use floating rope, which is blamed for entangling right whales. Lobstermen have complained about the costs of switching to sinking rope, among other burdens.
The firm is taking on the case pro bono. Mary Anne Mason, the lead counsel on the case, told the paper that the issue needs to be "resolved in a way that doesn't impose costs on fishermen that they can't meet."
At last weekend's Maine Fishermen's Forum in Rockland, the Maine Lobstermen's Association announced that Beltway firm Hogan & Hartson will represent the state's lobstermen against a recent rule change that requires the use of sinking rope, according to the Ellsworth American. Maine lobstermen currently use floating rope, which is blamed for entangling right whales. Lobstermen have complained about the costs of switching to sinking rope, among other burdens.
The firm is taking on the case pro bono. Mary Anne Mason, the lead counsel on the case, told the paper that the issue needs to be "resolved in a way that doesn't impose costs on fishermen that they can't meet."
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