In the News | October 2025

State Republicans ask administration to cancel all Gulf of Maine leases

Maine Republicans are asking the Trump administration to revoke offshore wind leases in the Gulf of Maine that had been auctioned to developers last year, arguing they would harm the economy and fishing industry. Environmental advocates and state officials say the request is built on flawed logic and inaccurate claims. In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Rep. Reagan Paul, R-Winterport, applauded the administration’s termination of more than $600 million in offshore wind projects late last month and asked for four commercial-scale leases off the coast of Maine to be revoked. More than 60 other legislators joined as co-signers, including all Republican members of the Legislature’s Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology.

Finding right whales by finding their food

New joint research led by the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, Bigelow Laboratory, and the University of Maine could help scientists more effectively predict where North Atlantic right whales spend their time throughout the year and lead to better protection for this critically endangered species. “You can’t protect whales if you don’t know where they are—and they go where the food is,” said Dr. Damian Brady, a professor of oceanography at the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center and a coauthor on the new paper. “This study helps us map that more precisely than ever before.”

Calanus finnarchicus, a right whale's favorite food. NOAA image.

DFO raises herring quota

Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne increased the quota for herring from 16,000 tons to 20,000, in mid-September, an increase that will remain in place for 2026. The move comes one year after the federal government established a four-year quota of 16,000 tons per year the stock has been considered in the critical zone since 2017. At that time conservationists argued the quota should have been set even lower. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said in a statement that the quota was increased based on recent scientific data showing an increase in survey estimates of spawning stock biomass.

Whale entanglement numbers rise

According to NOAA's 2024 National Large Whale Entanglement Report, 95 whales were entangled in fishing gear last year; 77 were humpback whales. Whale entanglements were reported and confirmed off the coast of 12 states. More than 71% of all confirmed live whale entanglement reports were observed off the coast of four states:

• 25% off the coast of California

• 18% off the coast of Massachusetts

• 16% off the coast of Alaska

• 12% off the coast of Hawaii

Massachusetts Bay and Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts; Monterey Bay, California; and Southeast Alaska continued to be areas where many confirmed large whale cases were initially reported. Humpback whales were the most frequently entangled species due to their growing population along the both coasts. North Atlantic right whales were also identified entangled in gear.

NOAA Photo.

State scallop license lottery open

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) annual lotteries for scallop drag and scallop dive licenses is open until October 17. DMR is making available 14 drag licenses (seven drag licenses will be awarded to individuals between the age of 18-30 and seven drag licenses will be awarded to individuals 31 years of age or older) and five dive licenses. The lotteries will remain open until 4:30 p.m. on October 17. Any eligible individual may enter either the scallop drag license lottery or the dive license lottery, but not both lotteries. There will be a $37 fee to enter the lottery. Online applications are available at www.maine.gov/scalloplottery. Payments for online applications must be made by credit card. Applicants may also complete a paper application at the DMR offices in the Marquardt Building, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta. More information on the lotteries and eligibility is available at https://apps1.web.maine.gov/online/dmr/scallop/faq.html.