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Maine Politicians: Sweden Shouldn't List American Lobster as Invasive

Anders Pearson via Flickr CC
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Maine politicians are calling for the European Union to deny a request from the Swedish government to have American lobster listed as invasive.

Sweden wants the EU to bar imports of live American lobsters into the 28-nation bloc after 32 lobsters were found in the country's waters. Swedish officials say an invasion of American lobsters could harm native European lobsters.

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin aren't buying it. They sent letters in recent days citing a paper by American and Canadians scientists that says there isn't scientific evidence American lobsters could survive long enough in Europe to be considered invasive.

Collins and Poliquin are Republicans, King an independent and Pingree a Democrat. The legislators are from Maine, the biggest lobster state.

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