The New England Fishermen's Stewardship Association (NEFSA) is urging Congress to pass legislation it says would provide regulatory stability for commercial fishermen while maintaining existing protections for the North Atlantic right whale.

In an email sent July 15, NEFSA announced that the House Committee on Natural Resources had passed H.R. 9436, describing the legislation as vital to protecting commercial fishermen from what the organization called "another crushing regulation."

Following the committee's action, NEFSA Vice President John Drouin submitted a letter to Congress expressing the organization's support for the bill.

"This legislation does not weaken protections for the North Atlantic right whale," Drouin wrote. "Rather, it preserves the current regulatory framework while allowing continued investment in science, monitoring, and adaptive management. It recognizes that durable conservation outcomes depend on accurate information and practical solutions, not rushed regulatory timelines."

According to the letter, NEFSA believes the measure would maintain existing whale protections while allowing additional scientific research to inform future management decisions.

"H.R. 9436 strikes an appropriate balance between protecting one of the world's most endangered whale species and preserving the economic viability of historic fishing communities throughout the Northeast," Drouin wrote. "It ensures that future management decisions will be informed by more complete scientific information while maintaining protections already in place."

NEFSA said the legislation supports both marine conservation and the long-term stability of commercial fishing communities by preserving the current regulatory framework while additional science and monitoring efforts continue.

Drouin ends the letter with “We respectfully urge the Subcommittee to advance H.R. 9436 and provide the certainty needed for both marine conservation and the hardworking Americans whose livelihoods depend upon sustainable fisheries.”