Effective May 1, 2012, all commercial coastal and offshore lobster permit holders fishing in Lobster Management Area (LMA) 2 will be required to carve a v-shaped notch (v-notch) into a pelvic flipper of all legal sized female egg-bearing lobsters.  The legal size for lobsters in LMA 2 is between 3 3/8” and 5 1/4” carapace length. 

This action is being taken in accordance with the recommendations of the LMA 2 Lobster Conservation Management Team (LCMT), approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Lobster Management Board, to comply with the ASMFC Interstate American Lobster Fishery Management Plan and reduce commercial exploitation of the critically depleted Southern New England lobster stock by 10% beginning on January 1, 2013.  In order to ensure a reduction in of exploitation begins in 2013, v-notching must begin during this commercial fishing year.  As such, MarineFisheries will be filing this regulation as an emergency action effective May 1, 2012. 

A public hearing and public comment period will be scheduled later this spring to permanently codify this v-notch requirement.  

For more information regarding the management of the American lobster resource in Massachusetts please visit www.mass.gov/marinefisheries. Information pertaining to the interstate management of American lobster can be found at www.asmfc.gov.

If you have any questions pertaining to this emergency regulations, contact Jared Silva by phone (617-626-1534) or e-mail (jared.silva@state.ma.us).