New regulations proposed for for Jonah crabs

Gulf of Maine Research Institute press release published in Landings, July, 2014.

A New England collaborative proposed new regulations and emergency protective measures for Jonah crab at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) meeting in May.

“Landings of Jonah crab have more than quadrupled over the last 20 years, but we still lack a management plan that would monitor the species and create limits to protect it from overfishing,” said Jen Levin, seafood program manager at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. “We are helping to facilitate an industry-led effort to sustainably manage this resource and safeguard the long-term health of the fishery.”

The working group – consisting of New England fishermen, scientists, retailers, regulators, and processors – proposed that the ASMFC incorporate Jonah crab into the management plan that governs the lobster fishery. The recommendations also include reporting requirements, minimum catch size, and an emergency ban on harvesting females.

Jonah crab has long been considered a bycatch of the lobster industry, but fast-growing market demand has increased the targeted fishing pressure on the species in recent years. In 2012, about 11.5 million pounds of Jonah crab were landed in the United States, with a total pre-processed value of more than $8 million.

“The Jonah crab fishery is an important source of income for local fishermen and seafood processors,” said David Spencer, commercial fisherman, F/V Nathaniel Lee. “We want to be sure that we are putting measures in place that will allow us to harvest this valuable resource today and long into the future.”