Effective June 30, 2006 the minimum size for lobster caught by commercial fishermen permitted for the Outer Cape Lobster Conservation Management Area (Outer Cape) will be 3 3/8” – a 1/32” reduction from the current 3 13/32” requirement (322 CMR 6.01). The Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission approved this rule change after the interstate Lobster Management Board repealed “if necessary provisions” in those commercial lobstering areas that fish on stocks that are not considered overfished or depleted. For Massachusetts this meant that the lobster minimum size in the Outer Cape can be 3 3/8” and not be increased to 3 1/2” through four annual 1/32” increases begun last year through 2008 .

Implementation of a 3 3/8” minimum size in the Outer Cape creates a uniform minimum size for commercial and recreational fishermen in Massachusetts southern and eastern waters.