新英格兰地区的渔业企业和行业组织因蒙特利湾水族馆将美国和加拿大龙虾列入"红名单"而提起诽谤诉讼，该案目前正在第一巡回上诉法院审理。[1] 蒙特利湾水族馆旗下的海鲜卫士计划在2022年做出了这一列表决定。[1] 渔业方声称该排名不准确地将其描绘为对鲸鱼的威胁，造成了经济损害。[1]
在7月26日的口头辩论中，法官Seth Aframe表示该案涉及严重的第一修正案问题。[1] 他指出"这看起来不像诽谤案件"，并表示从"第一修正案的角度"对此案感到担忧，暗示可能不允许该诉讼继续进行。[1] 他在法庭上指出，"你扩大的人员范围越广，感觉就越像每个人都可以起诉"。[1]
红名单已对龙虾产业造成实际经济影响。[1] 缅因州渔民去年捕获超过7800万磅（3500万公斤）龙虾，价值超过4.6亿美元。[1] 包括Whole Foods在内的主要零售商在龙虾被列入红名单后宣布撤下缅因湾龙虾。[1]
A group of New England fishing businesses and industry organizations has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program over its placement of American and Canadian lobster on a "red list" in 2022.[1] During oral arguments before the First Circuit Court of Appeals on July 26, Judge Seth Aframe expressed significant constitutional reservations about the case, suggesting it may not proceed as a defamation claim.[1] The judge stated the case "doesn't look like a defamation case" and voiced concerns "from a First Amendment perspective," further cautioning that "the broader the range of people you expand, the more it feels like everybody can sue."[1]
The fishermen contend that the red list designation inaccurately portrays their industry as a threat to whales, causing economic harm.[1] Maine fishermen landed over 78 million pounds (35 million kilograms) of lobster the previous year, valued at more than $460 million.[1] The listing has had tangible commercial consequences, as major retailers including Whole Foods announced they would remove Maine lobster from their shelves following the red designation.[1]