ME lobster industry representatives, politicians and scientists said on Friday that they will dig in against a Swedish proposal to ban imports of American lobster into Europe.
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U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent, said the group will pressure the U.S. government to keep opposing the proposed ban that’s wending its way through the European Union.
Poliquin says the stakes are higher, even, than the more than $200 million worth of live lobster the US and Canada ship each year to the EU.
Last month, the EU’s Scientific Forum on Invasive Alien Species chose to advance Sweden’s request for further consideration by European Union officials.
“As the Congressional representatives of ME, the state where an overwhelming majority of all American lobster-including that which is destined for European markets-is landed, we are deeply concerned about the negative impacts of Sweden’s proposed import ban”.
“Maine is lobster. ME is moose, ME is blueberry pie, it is Moxie”.
“We believe in our lobsters”. They say Europe should consider enforcing existing regulations on how the live imported lobsters are stored once they arrive in Europe, or expand those regulations, before considering an outright ban.
“The best available science says this does not meet the measure of an invasive species”, he said. “So if they’ve tried to do it to make them grow as a conscious decision, then how do we expect the few strays to suddenly take over?”
Three members of Maine’s congressional delegation spoke out against the proposal at a news conference at a Portland lobster dealer on Friday, and the other member is also on board with the push.
All members of the delegation – including Sen.
University of ME marine science professor Bob Steneck has been studying the crustaceans for 30 years.
“There’s no scientific evidence that suggests that the American lobster is a threat to the lobster in Europe”.
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Everyone at Friday’s gathering said the science just doesn’t support that.
