Whale Activist Loses Attempt to Block Fishing Rope Licensing

Massachusetts can continue authorizing and licensing vertical buoy ropes used by fishermen in state waters pending a lawsuit over their alleged harm to endangered whales, a federal court in the state ruled in a loss for a whale activist.

New evidence of whale entanglements doesn’t warrant a change to a previous order requiring the state to apply for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act, according to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The permit allows activities that may result in the harming or killing of a listed species.

Richard “Max” Strahan, also known as ...