Stonington Manager coordinates with neighbors on NOAA whale-rule comments

Town Manager Billings told the Selectmen she had submitted comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on a proposed rule and a 10-year plan to reduce end lines used in lobstering and said she was working with neighboring towns to coordinate responses.

Billings said she distributed a Maine Lobstermen’s Association guide to the board and was communicating with Vinalhaven and North Haven managers and the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association as the town prepares comments. She told the board the BiOps comment deadline was Feb. 24 and that the planning-rule comment window closed March 1 on the schedule discussed in the materials she circulated.

Selectmen discussed the possible economic and social impacts on inshore fishermen and local communities; Billings said the town is tracking the legal timeline because of a related court case and is preparing joint materials with other municipalities to present technical and community impacts succinctly to federal regulators.

The board did not take a binding municipal policy at the meetings represented here but recorded that officials and staff were engaged in the federal-comment process and coordinating with regional partners.