Biggest factor in declining lobster stocks is reduction in eggs, which is due to warming water, which is due to climate change.
NY tracks recreational harvest and finds 1.4% of harvest due to divers/private traps. Massachusets 1%.
In 1996, NJ had 42 commercial lobster vessels.
In 2015, we had 29.
Biggest year for harvest in NJ: 1990. 2.2 million pounds
Smallest year for NJ harvest: 2009. 178,000 pounds
Latest year reported: 2015. 445,000 pounds.
Inshore vs off shore harvest (entire North East market):
1998 87% inshore 13% offshore
2012 40% inshore 60% offshore
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