MarineFisheries will host an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) public hearing to gather public comment on Draft Addendum XVI to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster.

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
Friday, January 8, 2010; 2:00 – 4:00 PM
MA DMF New Bedford Office
1213 Purchase Street, Third Floor
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Contact:  Dan McKiernan at (617) 626-1536

The Draft Addendum proposes options for new reference points for each of the three lobster stocks. It also proposes changes in the procedures for adopting and implementing new reference points. The reference points first established in Addendum VIII require revision. The reference point estimates are based on the 2006 assessment covering 1982-2003. They are not compatible with the 2009 assessment which covers data from 1982-2007. The Lobster Technical Committee and the Review Panel for the 2009 American lobster stock assessment recommended developing new reference points for future management.

Currently, to incorporate new stock status determination criteria (overfishing/depleted status) that may result from updated, peer-reviewed science, the Board must enact an addendum adjustment or amendment to the American Lobster FMP. The stock status determination criteria are defined under Section 2.3.1 of Addendum VIII to the FMP. Though these criteria may be modified or replaced through an addendum or amendment, the timing of updated survey information, subsequent analysis and peer-review, and the addendum or amendment process means that the availability of the best available scientific information may be significantly delayed from entering the management process and responding to poor stock health.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on Draft Addendum XVI, by either attending public hearings or providing written comments. The Draft Addendum can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on January 20, 2010 and should be forwarded to Toni Kerns, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator for Management, 1444 ‘Eye’ Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at tkerns@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Addendum XVI). For more information, please contact Toni Kerns at (202) 289-6400.

Document: http://www.asmfc.org/speciesDocuments/lobster/fmps/draftAddendumXVIPublicComment.pdf