Maine is known for its traditions, its working waterfronts, and its deep connection to the sea. But traditions should not prevent us from asking hard questions about whether our laws still reflect our values.

On January 26, a Maine state judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that sought to stop the steaming of live lobsters at the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland. The court did not rule on whether this practice is humane or inhumane. Instead, the judge made clear that Maine’s existing laws do not give courts the authority to intervene, in part because current animal welfare statutes do not clearly apply to invertebrate animals like lobsters.

That decision revealed something deeply important. The issue is not only about one festival or one lawsuit. It is about a legal system that leaves entire categories of animals outside the scope of protection, without clear guidance or public debate.

Maine’s animal welfare laws were written decades ago, at a time when scientific understanding of animal sentience and public concern about humane treatment were far more limited. Judges can only interpret the law as it exists. When the law is silent or outdated, responsibility falls to lawmakers to decide whether that silence still reflects the will of the people.

This petition is not an attack on the courts, the Maine Lobster Festival, or the fishermen and coastal communities who depend on this industry. It is a call for leadership. Clear, modern laws protect everyone by setting expectations openly, instead of leaving serious ethical questions unresolved until controversy erupts.

We are urging members of the Maine Legislature, especially those serving on committees overseeing agriculture, conservation, and marine resources, along with the Governor of Maine, to begin a transparent and thoughtful review of the state’s animal welfare statutes. That review should include public input and up-to-date scientific perspectives, while respecting Maine’s history and livelihoods.

Ignoring this issue does not make it disappear. It only guarantees that more animals, more communities, and more courts will be left navigating unclear rules.

Maine has long valued fairness, responsibility, and common sense. Updating our animal welfare laws is not about rejecting tradition. It is about ensuring our laws do not fall behind our conscience.

Sign this petition to call on Maine lawmakers to take responsibility and modernize animal welfare laws for today’s world.