Statement on Gov. Janet Mills’ Letter to Abandon Federal Risk Reduction for the Right Whale

Yesterday, Maine Governor Janet T. Mills sent a letter announcing she will not accept federal guidelines for reducing risk to the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale.  

Jane Davenport, senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife issued the following statement: 

“On the campaign trail, Governor Mills portrayed herself as a champion of the environment, but sadly, it seems she’s only concerned about issues outside Maine’s borders. Her decision to politicize and unilaterally abandon a science-based, stakeholder regulatory process ensures that endangered North Atlantic right whales will continue getting tangled up in Maine fishing gear and suffering slow, painful deaths. We urge Governor Mills to reconsider her decision to play an active role in the right whale’s extinction.”