Interstate Fisheries Management

American lobster, Homarus americanus, are one of the most valuable commercial fisheries along the Atlantic coast. The last fifteen years have seen increases in lobster landings, rising from 62 million pounds in 1990 to 88 million pounds in 2005. Of this catch, approximately 80 percent are caught in state waters, which extend from zero to three miles from shore. The lobster fishery has seen incredible expansion in effort and landings since the late 1940s and early 1950s, when landings varied around 25 million pounds. American lobster are managed under Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for American Lobster, as well as Addenda I through X to the Plan. Amendment 3 established a framework for area management, which includes industry participation through seven Lobster Conservation Management Teams, which are encouraged to develop area-specific management programs to address the needs of the area. Addendum X, approved in February 2007, establishes new monitoring and reporting requirements for the fishery. The 2005 peer-reviewed stock assessment report indicates the American lobster resource presents a mixed picture, with stable stock abundance throughout most of the Gulf of Maine (GOM) and Georges Bank (GBK), low abundance and recruitment in Southern New England (SNE), and decreased recruitment and abundance in Massachusetts Bay and Stellwagen Bank (Area 514). Of particular concern is SNE, where depleted stock abundance, low recruitment, and high fishing mortality rates over the past few years have led the Peer Review Panel to call for additional harvest restrictions. Based on these findings, the Board has initiated the development of a stock rebuilding schedule for the SNE stock. State and federal fisheries managers and lobstermen are continually working on ways to ensure the continued health of this valuable resource. The Commission is committed to ensuring effective and complementary conservation and management measures both in state and federal waters.<species profile> <stock status> <habitat fact sheet>

Contacts Toni Kerns, Senior FMP Coordinator for Policy Management Board Chair, Brian Culhane Technical Committee Chair, Kim McKown Advisory Panel Bob Baines		Management Plans & Actions Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster (December 1997) Addendum I (August 1999) Addendum II (February 2001) Addendum III (February 2002) Technical Addendum 1 (August 2002) Addendum IV (January 2004) Addendum V (March 2004) Addendum VI (February 2005) Addendum VII (November 2005) Addendum VIII (May 2006) Addendum IX (October 2006) Addendum X (February 2007) Addendum XI (May 2007) Addendum XII (February 2009) Addendum XIII (May 2008) Addendum XIV (May 2009) Final Results of the Federal Lobster Trap Area Eligibility Program Eligibility (presented August 2006) * Previous plans and addenda can be found at Fishery Management Reports or by contacting the Commission at (202)289-6400. Reports FMP Reviews 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Stock Assessment Reports NEW: American Lobster Stock Assessment for Peer Review (March 2009) Please note that the stock assessment report is very large, please contact the Commission to receive the report on CD-ROM. NEW: Terms of Reference & Advisory Report to the American Lobster Stock Assessment Peer Review (March 2009) American Lobster Stock Assessment for Peer Review (January 2006) Terms of Reference & Advisory Report to the American Lobster Stock Assessment Peer Review (January 2006) Terms of Reference and Advisory Report for the American Lobster Stock Assessment Peer Review (July 2000) American Lobster Stock Assessment Model Technical Review: Terms of Reference & Panel Report (December 2004) Area-by-Area Management Measures Minutes & Meeting Summaries
Pending Actions for Public Input
Upcoming Meetings *6/3 (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM):* American Lobster Advisory Panel, Sheraton Providence Airport, 1850 Post Road, Warwick, Rhode Island.

Press Releases American Lobster Board Approves Addendum XIV (May 7, 2009) American Lobster Stock Assessment Yields Mixed Results (May 7, 2009) ASMFC American Lobster Board Adopts Addendum XII and Approves Draft Addendum XIV for Public Comment (February 4, 2009) ASMFC American Lobster Board Approves Draft Addendum XII for Additional Public Comment (October 23, 2008) States Schedule Hearings on Draft Lobster Addenda: Public Comment Accepted until April 11, 2008 (March 4, 2008) ASMFC American Lobster Board Approves Two Draft Addenda for Public Review and Comment (February 6, 2008) ASMFC American Lobster Board Initiates Draft Addendum on Trap Transferability (October 29, 2007) ASMFC Lobster Board Approves V-Notch Plan for Long Island Sound (August 14, 2007) ASMFC American Lobster Board Approves Addendum XI: Addendum Establishes Measures to Rebuild SNE Stock of American Lobster (May 10, 2007) ASMFC Releases Draft Addendum XI for Public Comment: Addendum Provides Options to Rebuild SNE Stock of American Lobster (April 4, 2007) States Schedule Public Hearings on Draft Addendum X: Addendum Proposes Establishment of Landing Data Collection Program (November 9, 2006) ASMFC Lobster Board Adopts Area 2 Trap Transferability Program and Approves Draft Addenda X for Public Comment (October 23, 2006) States Schedule Public Hearings on Amendment 5 Public Information Document (Revises August 31, 2006 press release by modifying the dates of the Massachusetts hearings) (September 1, 2006) States Schedule Public Hearings on Amendment 5 Public Information Document (August 31, 2006) ASMFC Lobster Board Releases Draft Amendment 5 PID for Public Comment: States to Conduct Public Hearings in the Fall (August 17, 2006) ASMFC Lobster Board Initiates Action on Area 2 Trap Transferability Program and Data Collection (August 15, 2006) American Lobster Board Approves Addendum VIII: Addendum Establishes New Biological Reference Points and Enhances Data Collection Requirements (May 9, 2006) Atlantic States Schedule Public Meetings on American Lobster Draft Addendum (March 15, 2006) American Lobster Stock Assessment Yields Mixed Results (November 8, 2005) ASMFC American Lobster Board Approves New Effort Control Plan for Area 2 (November 3, 2005) ASMFC Releases Draft Addendum VII to the American Lobster Plan for Public Comment: Addendum Proposes New Effort Control Plan for Area 2 (September 6, 2005) ASMFC Forwards Massachusetts Noncompliance Finding to the Secretaries of Commerce & the Interior for Action (September 2, 2005) ASMFC Lobster Board Approves Addendum VI (February 9, 2005) Draft Addendum VI to the American Lobster Plan Available for Public Comment (December 1, 2004) ASMFC American Lobster Board Approves Addendum V: Area 3 Trap Cap Set at 2200 (March 9, 2004) ASMFC Releases Draft Lobster Addenum V for Public Comment (January 30, 2004)