John,

Barely old enough to navigate the vast ocean on her own, a young female North Atlantic right whale has drowned due to the deathly grip of the fishing gear wrapped around her tail. Her lifeless body washed ashore on a Massachusetts beach.

But there's a way to save this critically endangered species. “Rope-less traps” offer a lifeline to these vulnerable creatures, and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has the power to enforce their use. For years, the Maine lobster industry has fiercely resisted stricter regulations, but the evidence is clear.

Now is our moment to demand stronger, more sustainable practices that protect marine life. Together, we can urge NOAA to ban these death traps once and for all.

NOAA: Strong regulations and compliance for Maine lobster industry – introduce “rope-less traps”!

The North Atlantic right whales, gentle giants of the coastal waters along the US East Coast, are in great danger. Nearly 100 of these majestic animals have been killed tangled in fishing gear since 2017. And as of June 2024, only about 360 animals remain in the waters, with fewer than 70 reproductively active females. Their numbers are steadily dwindling and because of that the species status moved from “Endangered” to “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.

Fishing gear is one of the two primary death traps threatening the survival of these whales. Entangled animals either drown quickly or suffer agonizing injuries that lead to starvation, infection, and a slow, painful death.

For far too long, the Maine lobster industry has rejected responsibility for the entanglement and deaths of North Atlantic right whales. They've insisted there was no proof that their gear was to blame. But the proof is now in our hands – and we will not let them escape accountability.

The Ekō community is a global movement dedicated to protecting people, the planet, and animals. Tens of thousands of Eko members came together to demand better hygiene on UK salmon farms. We made headlines and pressured the authorities to announce stricter standards for waste pollution and sea lice control. Today, we can join forces to introduce strong laws that protect whales from the deadly traps set by the fishing industry.

NOAA: Enforce strict regulations on lobster fishing in Maine—introduce “rope-less traps”! The time to act is now.