Patrick Whittle / Associated Press

One of the rarest species of whale in the world has increased slightly in population, encouraging conservationists and leading to a new call to protect the giant animals.

Fishing regulators are instituting a new rule that lobster fishermen must abide by stricter minimum sizes for the crustaceans they harvest. The impending change might be only 1/16th of an inch, but it will make a huge difference for fishermen when the fishery is facing major threats from climate change and new rules designed to protect whales.

Federal authorities say a North Atlantic right whale has been spotted entangled in rope off New England in already devastating year for the vanishing animals.

Maine and Massachusetts are receiving more than $27 million to enhance data collection, improve fishing gear and make other changes designed to protect a vanishing species of whale.

The regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission said it will allow no harvest of female horseshoe crabs that originate in the Delaware Bay during the 2024 fishing season. The Delaware Bay is one of the most important ecosystems for the crabs, which are also harvested in large numbers in New England.

Officials say surveys have detected that the population of young lobsters has declined nearly 40% in some of the most critical fishing waters off New England.

A federal appeals court has blocked proposed restrictions aimed at saving a vanishing species of whale, saying they could put thousands of commercial fishermen out of work.

Federal fishing managers say a staple seafood species caught by East Coast fishers for centuries is experiencing overfishing. They’re cutting fishing quotas for Gulf of Maine haddock by around 80% to prevent a collapse of the population.

After a mild winter in the U.S., scientists are watching to see if there will be an uptick in ticks this year. More ticks this spring could mean a wider spread of Lyme disease and other infections.

The rules about the minimum and maximum sizes of lobsters that can be trapped off New England could soon become stricter, potentially bringing big changes to one of the most valuable seafood industries in the country.