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FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLANS
AMERICAN LOBSTER

Implementing regulations for these fisheries are found at 50 CFR Part 697 Subpart A & B

The American Lobster fishery is managed by NOAA Fisheries Service in Federal waters under the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act and in state waters under the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Interstate Fishery Management Plan.  The fishery regulations control lobster trap fishing effort based on historic participation in three Lobster Management Areas (LMAs) including LMA 3, the offshore waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and LMAs 4 and 5, the nearshore EEZ from New York to North Carolina.  Federal lobster permit holders who intend to fish for lobster with trap gear during the fishing year are required to designate lobster management areas and tag all lobster traps.  Federal lobster regulations require Federal permit holders to abide by the most restrictive of either state or Federal trap limits.  To view images of this fishery, please click here.

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American Lobster
Lobster Trap
American Lobster

Last Updated: March 28, 2013

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