MASSACHUSETTS MARINE FISHERIES ADVISORY COMMISSION APPROVES NEW REGULATIONS - Outer Cape Lobster Minimum Size to Increase

Paul J. Diodati
Director

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries
251 Causeway Street, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626.1520
Fax (617) 626.1509

September 12, 2005
MarineFisheries Advisory

MASSACHUSETTS MARINE FISHERIES ADVISORY COMMISSION
APPROVES NEW REGULATIONS –
Outer Cape Lobster Minimum Size to Increase

At a September 1, 2005 business meeting, the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission (MFAC) approved Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) proposal to increase the lobster minimum size by 1/32” to 3 13/32” for commercial lobster permit holders endorsed for the Outer Cape. This increase was to have taken effect on July 1, 2005 as mandated by Addendum III to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan. Massachusetts had delayed action on this increase due to concerns about enforcement of multiple minimum sizes in state waters. However, at the recent August meeting of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the ASMFC Lobster Board found Massachusetts out-of-compliance for failing to enact this rule. To comply with the plan and meet the mandates of the ASMFC, Massachusetts has enacted this increase that will go into effect on Friday, September 23, 2005. No changes were made to rules concerning any other commercial Lobster Management Areas or to either of the Recreational Lobster Areas. Director Paul Diodati pledged to the Commission to work through the upcoming Lobster Management Plan amendment to reconcile disparate rules between management areas managed
by MarineFisheries for 2006 and beyond.