ASMFC American Lobster Board Approves Area-Specific Measures to Reduce Fishing Exploitation on South
Posted by njdiver on 2/9/2012, 4:44 pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER, 703.842.0740
ASMFC American Lobster Board Approves Area-Specific Measures to Reduce Fishing Exploitation on Southern New England Stock by 10%
Alexandria, VA – The Commission’s American Lobster Board approved Addendum XVII to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster. The Addendum establishes area-specific management measures for Lobster Conservation Management Areas (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) as the first step in initiating Southern New England (SNE) stock rebuilding. The measures are intended to reduce fishing exploitation on the SNE stock by 10% starting in July 2013 in response to the stock’s depleted condition, which has been at low levels of abundance and experiencing persistent low recruitment since 2002. The approved area-specific measures are as follows:
(Snip)
LCMA 3 (offshore federal waters from Maine to North Carolina) – A minimum size of 3 17/32” effective January 1, 2013.
LCMAs 4 and 5 (South and east of Long Island, New York to North Carolina) – A conservation equivalency program, composed of a mandatory V-notching program for all legal-sized egg bearing females and a closed season to be determined by the states pending Technical Committee approval, was approved. The closed season would include one or more months between January and April, with lobster traps removed from the water during the closed season. If the closed season extends four weeks or longer, the Board will allow a two-week grace period for removal of lobster traps and the setting of un-baited lobster traps one week prior to the season reopening. The grace period is intended to allow industry to safely remove and set a large number of traps if inclement weather occurs. Lobster landings will continue to be prohibited during the grace periods. The Technical Committee will review the proportion of v-notch females in the catch to determine compliance by July, 1 2014; if the measures do not meet the conservation objectives, a two-month closed season from April 29 to May 31 will be implemented.
Move to approve a closed season from April 29 to May 31 for LCMA 4 to achieve the required reduction in Addendum XVII. As a conservation equivalency program approve a mandatory V notching program augmented by a closed season (approved by the TC) to achieve 10% reduction in exploitation in LCMA 4. If the closed season extends 4 weeks or longer allow 2 week grace period for removal of lobster traps and allow for the setting of un-baited lobster traps 1 week prior to the season reopening. Technical Committee shall review the proportion of v-notch females in the catch to determine compliance by July, 1 2014.
Motion by made Mr. Himchak and seconded by Mr. Augustine. Motion passes (8 in favor, 1 no, 1 abstention).
Move to approve a closed season from April 29 to May 31 for LCMA 5 to achieve the required reduction in Addendum XVII. As a conservation equivalency program approve a mandatory V notching program augmented by a closed season (approved by the TC) to achieve 10% reduction in exploitation in LCMA 5. If the closed season extends 4 weeks or longer allow 2 week grace period for removal of lobster traps and allow for the setting of un-baited lobster traps 1 week prior to the season reopening. Technical Committee shall review the proportion of v-notch females in the catch to determine compliance by July, 1 2014.
Motion made by Mr. Himchak and seconded by Mr. Augustine. Motion passes (9 in favor, 1 abstention).
Disclaimer of Liability: The materials on the NJ Scuba Divers Message Board web site are provided to you free of charge, "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL NJ SCUBA DIVERS MESSAGE BOARD OR BOARDHOST.COM BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES OR DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, USE, OR DATA WHETHER BROUGHT IN CONTRACT OR TORT, ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH ANY NJ SCUBA DIVERS MESSAGE BOARD POST OR BOARDHOST.COM WEB SITE OR THE USE, RELIANCE UPON OR PERFORMANCE OF ANY MATERIAL CONTAINED IN OR ACCESSED FROM ANY NJ SCUBA DIVERS MESSAGE BOARD POST OR BOARDHOST.COM WEB SITE.
Link Disclaimer: We provide links to web sites operated by other parties. The links are provided for your convenience only. The presence of a link does not imply any endorsement of the material on the web sites or any association with the web site's operators. We do not operate, control or endorse any information, products or services provided by third parties through the Internet. We are not responsible for the content and performance of these sites. Use of linked sites is strictly at your own risk including any risks associated with destructive viruses.
If you like this website, and would like to give something in return, you can make a donation Your donation will be used to pay for domain & maintenance costs ONLY! Click the PayPal Donate button below....THANK YOU!