Maine lobstermen outraged by White House dinner

WASHINGTON — The lobster on the menu of Thursday's state dinner comes with caviar, squash ravioli and a heaping side of controversy.

Maine officials would typically be thrilled to have their state's most famous export featured at a high-profile White House event. They are turning red and boiling with anger at what they think is a shellfish decision by the White House to serve lobster while pushing federal regulations that they say could kill the industry.

The Biden White House can prioritize purchasing 200 Maine lobsters for a fancy dinner, POTUS should take the time to meet with the Maine lobstermen his administration is currently regulating out of business, according to Maine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden.

Maine politicians are in a position to fight what they see as an existential threat to one of the state's biggest industries and most iconic cultural touchstones, and the crustacean frustration is virtually unanimous.

Genevieve McDonald, a Maine lobster boat captain who served two terms as a Democrat in the State House representing a group of island communities, said that our federal delegation and state lawmakers, regardless of political party or ideology, are united on this issue. It's not just our economy, but it's our sense of place. Concerns about lobstering's impact on the endangered right whale, whose population is estimated to be below 370, has prompted new federal regulation and calls for boycotts.

Whole Foods announced last month that it will stop selling Maine lobster after two consumer focused environmental watchdogs — Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch and the London-based Marine Stewardship Council — downgraded the fishery's rating.

Maine lobstermen have always prided themselves on sustainability and argue that the concern about right whales is misplaced.

I am happy that President Biden and his State Dinner guests had the chance to enjoy Maine lobster, Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills tweeted. I urge him and his Administration to recognize that Maine lobstermen want the opportunity to continue providing this product to people without the Federal government crushing them under the burden of burdensome, scientifically-questionable regulations. The last recorded entanglement with fishing lines was 18 years ago, and there are no recorded whale deaths due to Maine lobster gear. Some lobstermen who fish Maine's waters everyday say they've never seen a right whale.

Maine lobster is good enough for the White House to serve, and it is good enough for every seafood retailer - including Whole Foods -- to sell, according to Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

The White House flew 200 live lobsters from Maine Tuesday, which will be butter-poached, and served with a dollop of American caviar to French President Emmanuel Macron and 300 to 400 other guests at President Joe Biden's first state dinner.

White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford told reporters on Wednesday that they wanted to honor our lobstermen from Maine who hustled to fulfill the large order.

Myron Ebell, the director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the right-leaning Competitive Enterprise Institute, said they should put their policy where their mouths are. The administration should make their policy consistent with their culinary preferences. The Office of the First Lady, which oversees state dinner preparations, did not respond to a request for comment.