Entangled Together: The Death Spiral of the American Lobster Fishery and the North Atlantic Right Whale

On this episode, hosts Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham bring David Abel back to the show for an update on the ongoing saga between the Maine lobster fishery and the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, a subject he covers in depth in his reporting with the Boston Globe and in his Emmy-nominated film ENTANGLED. Since Peter and Tyler started this podcast, the conflict between the lobster fishery and the Right Whale has been a topic of discussion on many episodes. Four years ago, when they recorded their first episode on this topic, the whale population was estimated to be slightly over 400 individuals. New data revealed in this episode shows that the population of the Right Whale is now under 350 individuals, signaling the dire need for greater regulatory action if the whales are to be saved. David provides an update on this new data, as well as coloring in the legal and political developments that are now shaping the increasingly contentious debate over how to manage the fishery and prevent the extinction of the great North Atlantic Right Whale. 

David Abel is an award-winning reporter who covers fisheries and environmental issues for The Boston Globe. Abel's work has won an Edward R. Murrow Award, the Ernie Pyle Award from the Scripps Howard Foundation, and the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Feature Reporting.