ASMFC Considers 5 Year SNE Lobster Moratorium

[daybreak]

I almost fell off my favorite reading platform while going thru the latest issue of Commercial Fisheries News.

It seems that an ASMFC technical committee studying Southern New England lobster management is calling for a 5 year moratorium on all lobster fishing in the SNE area.

The area in question extends from Cape Cod down to North Carolina.

The problem, according to the committee is that there is a "recruitment issue" with lobster. Some evidence suggests this has to do with warmer water temps that affect lobsters.

A special Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's American Lobster Management Board meeting is coming up in July on the issue.

For more information, see:

http://www.commercial-fishing.org/commercial-fishing-regulations/board-to-consider-releasing-public-comment-document-on-rebuilding-sne-stocks-a1099.html

Who has opinions about the possibility of a 5 year lobster moratorium?

[illcrew3]

Yeah I saw this on the news and could't believe it. What I don't understand is how the heck they estimate the number of lobsters living in the waters. Based on the fishing I have seen the lobster population is not in trouble at all. Granted only 10%or less of our catch is keepers the numbers in general are strong. So if they ban lobster fishing in those waters, whats to stop the New Bedford folk from just fishing north of the ban?

[daybreak]

Here is an in-depth article about the water temperature issue:

http://m.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100613/NEWS/6130340/-1/NEWSMAP&template=wapart

I am trying to understand the logic behind shutting down fisheries because the water is too warm.

I suppose the big question is, "Were the lobster over-harvested or have they moved elsewhere because of warming waters?"

[illcrew3]

Yeah I just read the article. The idiots who "estimate" the lobster population have also been v notching the males as of recent. There was a research vessel around Gloucester earlier in the month and EVERY lobster we have been pulling since has a v notch on its tail. I'm guessing they think we only look at the tails and toss them back.

[illcrew3]

I've been MIA from here for a while. Work and a week long vacation has kept me busy. Has there been any update on this ban?

[daybreak]

There have been articles in the National Fisherman and other sources about the situation. I don't think a decision has been made as of yet.....although the big meeting was today apparently.

[daybreak]

Good news.....

A proposal to ban lobster fishing over a vast stretch of the East Coast was killed Thursday after lobstermen said it would do "almost biblical" damage to the industry.

The board that advises the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission on lobster rules voted instead to consider lesser reductions in the catch — or no new restrictions at all.

see: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128700264