Gov. Janet Mills and the state’s Congressional delegation are blasting Whole Foods Market for its decision to stop selling Maine lobster because of the suspension of a sustainability certificate.

Last week, the Marine Stewardship Council announced that effective Dec. 15, it will suspend the Gulf of Maine’s certificate, citing concerns about federal right whale protections.

“Over the last decade, climate-driven shifts in habitats and food sources have impacted right whale migration patterns, contributing to more interactions between right whales, fishing gear and shipping vessels,” the council wrote in a Nov. 16 press release.

In response, Whole Foods said this week it will stop buying Maine lobster once the suspension takes effect, according to a statement from the company.

"As part of our commitment to responsible sourcing, we only sell wild-caught seafood from fisheries that are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council or rated either Green or Yellow by the (Monterey Bay) Seafood Watch program," the statement says. "We are closely monitoring this situation and are committed to working with suppliers, fisheries, and environmental advocacy groups as it develops."

Maine political leaders expressed frustration with both the stewardship council and Whole Foods.

“We are disappointed by Whole Foods’ decision and deeply frustrated that the Marine Stewardship Council’s suspension of the lobster industry’s certificate of sustainability continues to harm the livelihoods of hardworking men and women up and down Maine’s coast,” said Mills, joined by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden.

The statement notes there has never been a right whale death attributed to Maine lobster gear and that the industry has already taken steps to protect the whales.

“Despite this, the Marine Stewardship Council, with retailers following suit, wrongly and blindly decided to follow the recommendations of misguided environmental groups rather than science,” the statement says. “We strongly urge the Marine Stewardship Council and retailers to reconsider their potentially devastating decisions.”

The council’s decision follows action in September by Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch to tell consumers to avoid eating Maine lobster, saying regulations are not stringent enough to protect the whales.

There are fewer than 340 of North Atlantic right whales left, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The lobster industry, which has 4,800 licensed lobstermen and 12,000 captains and crew working on the water, did catch a break last week when a federal judge delayed implementation of new whale protection regulations for two years to give the government more time to design them.