New American Lobster Broodstock Protection Measures and Effort Reduction in Offshore Area 3

NOAA Fisheries Service announces new Federal American lobster regulations in the Exclusive Economic Zone, consistent with recommendations for Federal action in Addenda II, III, IV and XI to Amendment 3 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster.  The new management measures implements new Federal lobster regulations to facilitate lobster broodstock protection and trap fishing effort reduction in Lobster Conservation Management Area 3 (Area 3).  NOAA Fisheries Service has published a final rule in the Federal Register, which describes the changes.

	Changes to Area 3 Lobster Regulations
	Effective Dates Broodstock Protection Measures Effort Reduction Measures November 4, 2007 Increase the lobster minimum carapace length (gauge) to 3 15/32 inches (8.81 cm) 5% Trap Allocation Reduction – See Column 3 July 1, 2008 Increase the lobster minimum carapace length (gauge) to 3 ½ inches (8.89 cm) 5% Trap Allocation Reduction - See Column 4 July 1, 2009   2.5% Trap Allocation Reduction - See Column 5 July 1, 2010 Increase trap escape vent size to 2 1/16 inches X 5 3/4 inches rectangular (5.24 X 14.61 cm) or two circular vents at 2 11/16 inches diameter (6.83 cm) by July 1, 2010 2.5% Trap Allocation Reduction - See Column 6

	Features
	Final Rule Permit Holder Letter Area 3 Lobster Trap Reduction Schedule, 2007 – 2010 Final EA, IRIR, IRFA Lobster Management Webpage

 For more information please contact Peter Burns at (978) 281-9144

Last Updated: October 10, 2007