联邦上诉法院驳回缅因州龙虾渔民对蒙特雷湾水族馆的诽谤诉讼
一家联邦上诉法院10月12日裁定，支持加州蒙特雷湾水族馆，驳回缅因州龙虾渔民及行业团体对其提起的诽谤诉讼。渔民们在三年前提起诉讼，起因是水族馆的「海鲜观察」（Seafood Watch）项目取消了美国和加拿大龙虾渔业的可持续认证，并呼吁消费者不要购买龙虾。
水族馆方面表示，该渔业对极度濒危的北大西洋露脊鲸构成威胁。法院的裁决维持了水族馆基于科学评估发表消费建议的权利，认定其言论不构成诽谤。
这一裁决对缅因州龙虾产业影响深远。龙虾捕捞是缅因州的标志性产业，关系到数千个沿海家庭的生计。行业团体长期以来认为，可持续认证的撤销不公平地损害了缅因龙虾的市场声誉。尽管诉讼被驳回，渔民与环保组织之间关于捕捞方式与鲸鱼保护的争论预计仍将持续。
信息来源：Saving Seafood（援引Maine Public） https://www.savingseafood.org/news/law/appeals-court-dismisses-maine-lobstermen-defamation-case-against-california-aquarium/
Federal Appeals Court Dismisses Maine Lobstermen's Defamation Suit Against Monterey Bay Aquarium
PORTLAND, Maine — A federal appeals court ruled on Oct. 12 in favor of California's Monterey Bay Aquarium, dismissing a defamation lawsuit brought by Maine lobstermen and industry groups. The suit, filed three years ago, stemmed from the aquarium's Seafood Watch program stripping the U.S. and Canadian lobster fisheries of their sustainability certification and urging consumers not to buy lobster.
The aquarium said the fishery poses a threat to the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. The court upheld the aquarium's right to publish consumption advice based on scientific assessment, finding its statements were not defamatory.
The ruling carries weight for Maine's signature industry: lobster fishing supports thousands of coastal families. Industry groups have long argued the lost certification unfairly damaged Maine lobster's market reputation, and the broader debate between fishermen and conservation groups over fishing methods and whale protection is expected to continue.
Source: Saving Seafood (via Maine Public)
图片来源：缅因州比尔斯岛作业中的龙虾船，CC BY 2.0，作者 robposse（Wikimedia Commons）
