Exchange Calls for Civility in Debate

Amidst signs of increasing tension over Maine's bycatch lobster law, the Portland Fish Exchange appealed for calm. "The proposal in LD 170 is a sensitive subject, and emotions can run high," said Exchange manager Hank Soule today. "Reasonable people may reasonably disagree, but we'll all have the chance to present our points of view to the decisionmakers. We hope the discourse will be civil and factual."

Soule’s comments were prompted by an incident reported during the Exchange's Board meeting on Frebruary 22. At that meeting, an Exchange director reported he had received a veiled threat from a lobsterman over LD170.

Director and fisherman Sam Galli said he had received a few calls from lobstermen he knew expressing opposition to the bill. During the course of one conversation, a lobstermen asked Mr. Galli, "You've got insurance?" Mr. Galli did not identify the caller.