Machias Savings Bank makes $250k donation to support Maine’s lobster industry

Machias Financial savings Financial institution (MSB) introduced immediately that it’ll donate $250,000 to the Maine Lobstermen’s Affiliation’s (MLA) Save Maine Lobstermen marketing campaign. The donation comes after a federal appeals court docket granted a movement to expedite the MLA’s enchantment of a choice in its lawsuit towards Nationwide Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The MLA seeks to reverse what it calls a scientifically flawed federal whale plan that may cripple Maine’s lobster trade and negatively impression the economic system of Maine and our coastal communities.

“This isn’t about selecting our hard-working lobstermen and ladies over whales. This isn’t about selecting the economic system over conservation. That is about selecting frequent sense,” stated Larry Barker, President and CEO of Machias Financial savings Financial institution. “The post-pandemic financial local weather for the lobster trade has been extraordinarily difficult and has solely been exacerbated by the uncertainty of the brand new deep reducing federal whale laws now underway. It has despatched a chill by the Maine lobster fishery. We’re saying ‘Sure’ to Maine’s lobstermen and ladies by proudly making this donation in be a part of the struggle and help the Maine lobster trade.”

Barker made a public video announcement on MSB’s social channels this morning, which could be considered right here.

“The Maine lobster fishery is crucial to Maine’s tradition, heritage, and economic system and has supported communities and generations of households whereas guaranteeing that this necessary pure useful resource is sustainably harvested for almost two centuries,” stated MLA president Kristan Porter, who can be a business fisherman from Cutler. “Maine’s lobster fleet straight helps greater than 12,000 jobs on the water. Along with the harvesters, the shoreside wholesale lobster sector, that’s, the lobster provide chain, helps an extra 5,500 jobs and generates an extra $1 billion yearly – which simply begins to the touch upon the true worth of the fishery to the state. Lobster straight infuses myriad sectors of Maine’s economic system from actual property to motels, eating places, trucking firms, auto dealerships, and banks to call a couple of,” stated Porter.

“The Maine lobster trade is in utter shock and disbelief that their very own federal authorities has set a course to remove a fishery that has by no means been recognized to kill a single proper whale,” stated Patrice McCarron, MLA govt director. “Lobstermen are already mourning the lack of their trade. These are good individuals who care deeply in regards to the ocean, lobsters, and proper whales. They need to be a part of the answer however, with out motion by the Courtroom, this isn’t doable.”

The MLA is the oldest and largest fishing trade affiliation on the east coast, established in 1954. In 2021, MLA launched its #SaveMaineLobstermen marketing campaign with a four-pronged method to protect the trade and shield the endangered whales. The plan contains aggressive authorized and coverage methods, guaranteeing selections are based mostly on sound science, innovating efficient conservation methods, and communication. Extra data on the marketing campaign could be discovered at www.savemainelobstermen.org.