At its February 4 meeting in Virginia the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) American Lobster Management Board voted to initiate the process to withdraw its measures increasing the minimum legal size for lobsters and changing the escape vent size. The board initiated Addendum 32 in response to lobstermen’s concerns about the potential economic impacts of an increase to the minimum gauge size in the Gulf of Maine and disruption to the supply chain with Canada.
MLMC Photo.
“Rolling back the resiliency measures in Addendum 27 results in increased risk to the long-term viability of the lobster fishery,” Lobster Board Chair and Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher said. “This action being considered by the Board will require the Gulf of Maine lobster industry to develop management strategies to ensure the long-term health of the resource and the coastal communities that it supports.”
Addendum 27 was approved by the ASMFC in May 2023 with the goal of providing additional protection of the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank lobster stock through proactive conservation measures. Under the addendum, when multiple surveys indicate a drop of 35% in sub-legal lobster abundance, conservation measures would come into effect. In October 2023, those surveys showed a decline of 39%. In response, Addendum 27 required an increase in the minimum size of legal lobsters from 3 1/4 inches to 3 5/16 inches by June 1, 2024 in Lobster Management Area 1. A second increase would have taken effect two years later, bringing the minimum to 3 3/8 inches. The ASMFC delayed implementation of the gauge change twice, moving back the implementation of the first gauge increase to July 1, 2025.
But Maine’s lobster industry protested loudly, putting public pressure on the state and the ASFMC Lobster Board to remove the measures altogether. At an angry public hearing on the matter in Augusta on January 9, Commissioner Keliher announced that the state of Maine would not initiate an increase of the lobster gauge this summer due to adamant opposition from lobstermen. The action would put the state out of compliance with the ASMFC fishery management plan as of July 1.
At the February 4 ASMFC Lobster Board meeting, however, Keliher proposed repealing changes to the gauge and vents sizes to allow more time for the industry to come up with alternative solutions. “Rolling back resiliency measures is not at all what I wanted to have happened. After multiple zone council meetings, we have been unable to convince the industry that now is an appropriate time to act,” Keliher told the board.
Seven states approved initiating a process to repeal the gauge and vent size changes, although with protests, one state opposed it and three abstained from the vote.
Maine’s lobster industry leaders have committed to remain engaged in the process. “The MLA is 100% committed to work with the state, industry leaders, associations and zone councils to start a new conversation with lobstermen on how to ensure the lobster stock remains healthy and the industry profitable,” said Patrice McCarron, Maine Lobstermen’s Association executive director. Dustin Delano, COO of the New England Fishermen's Stewardship Association (NEFSA) stated, “It is very important that fishermen participate in the process because DMR will be seeking input on what we want to see out this fishery and how it should be managed if stocks continue to decline."
DMR will meet with the Zone Councils in March and April to discuss next steps. “It is important to note we are starting this process with a clean slate, but I hope the industry will come to the table with ideas. The goal of the meetings will be to listen to the industry to hear from you when you believe actions should be taken and what those actions should be,” wrote Keliher.
“It is critical to have industry members actively participate in these conversations so please keep an eye out for the dates and times of these Zone Council meetings,” stated Keliher.
ASMFC’s Lobster Management Board will consider approval of Draft Addendum 32 for public comment in March and hold a public hearing and comment period in April, with the intention of finalizing the Draft Addendum at their May meeting.
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