Maine pain on lobster nix

Whole Foods’ decision to stop selling Maine lobster has been cheered by environmental groups, but has made politicians steaming mad.

The high-end grocery giant stopped offering Gulf of Maine lobster at hundreds of its stores nationwide due to concerns over the effects of fishing gear on endangered North Atlantic right whales. The whale population is estimated to be around 340.

In a joint statement, Gov. Janet Mills and the state’s four congressional legislators voiced their concern about the impact on local fishermen’s livelihoods and defended the state’s fishermen.