As of next summer, Maine lobstermen will be subject to a new rule increasing the minimum legal catch size by one-sixteenth of an inch. Originally set to go into effect in June 2024, recent actions from regulators have given those in the industry more time to adapt and prepare for the forthcoming change.
While the intent behind the rule is to “improve the resiliency” of the state’s lobster population, lobstermen have expressed concern about moving forward with the increase before it is absolutely necessary.
In order to comply with these new size guidelines, lobstermen will need to update their equipment to reflect the new legal minimum, including measurement gauges and the escape vents on lobster traps.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) voted earlier this month to delay the implementation of Addendum XXVII until July 1, 2025, giving the industry more time to adjust, as well as to engage with that officials responsible for Canada’s lobster industry.
The ASMFC is commission comprised of fifteen states that acts as a coordinating regulatory agency for the conservation and management of marine fisheries resources, including lobster.
Adopted in May of 2023, this rule was designed to be automatically triggered in the event that the young lobster population experienced a decline of 35 percent or more.
Development of this addendum first began in 2017 but was delayed in 2018 and again in 2022 as a result of the industry’s entanglement in “management and litigation concerning right while conservation requirements.”
Following a legal victory for the industry that halted the implementation of any additional regulations on the matter for six years, the ASMFC continued moving forward with hearings on Addendum XXVII and eventually voted in favor of its adoption.
Just three months later, scientists reported that the young lobster population had dropped 39 percent from its historic high, thus triggering the newly-approved provision. As a result of this, the agreed upon size increase was set to take effect in June of this year.
Maine Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) Commissioner Patrick Keliher, however, urged the ASMFC to delay the increase until January 2025.
“I don’t think when we were sitting here in May that we expected to be hitting the trigger as quickly as we did,” he said, according to a newsletter published by the Maine Lobster Community Alliance.
Click Here to Read the Full Publication
The commission’s latest decision to delay implementation until July of 2025 represents the second time that the ASMFC has taken action with respect to this change in response to calls from those in the industry.
Following the ASMFC’s announcement earlier this month, Commissioner Keliher issued a press release underscoring how this will give the industry more of an opportunity to adapt and prepare for the forthcoming change.
“The Board’s decision Tuesday to initiate a new Addendum that will delay implementation of the first minimum gauge size increase in Addendum XXVII until July 1, 2025 provides additional time for on-going conversations with Canada about shared management measures that can support stock resilience throughout the Gulf of Maine and create a level playing field for U.S. harvesters,” Keliher said.
“It also provides time for the lobster industry in the U.S, including harvesters and dealers, to prepare for the changes outlined in Addendum XXVII,” he continued.
At this same time, the Board approved Addendum XXX which limits the minimum legal size for imported lobsters to the smallest size which can be legally harvested in the United States.
“The Lobster Board’s approval of Addendum XXX ensures compliance with a requirement under federal law that limits the size of imported lobsters to the smallest size lobster that can be caught in the U.S.,” said Keliher. “I fully intend to continue to engage our harvesters and dealers to discuss how future changes should be implemented, if needed.”
“We will also continue our engagement with Canadian officials regarding the impact of Addenda XXX and XXXI [delaying the implementation of Addendum XXVII] on industry in the U.S. and Canada,” Keliher concluded.
Click Here to Read the MDMR’s Full Press Release
“Delaying the gauge increase until July 2025 is a big win for lobstermen at a time when our industry continues to face enormous challenges,” said Board President of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) Kristan Porter.
Porter — who is also a lobsterman from Cutler — went on to explain why securing this delay was instrumental to ensuring a smooth transition for Maine’s lobster industry.
“This delay allows time for Maritime Canada to consider increasing its gauge size and level the playing field, and for the US fishery to better prepare for reduced landings and market disruptions,” Porter said.
“MLA opposes a gauge increase,” Porter concluded, “but we are satisfied, at least, that ASMFC is listening to the concerns of the Maine lobster industry about the serious unintended consequences of a US-only gauge increase.”
The Canadian lobstermen can still keep them. On the other hand a government induced shortage of lobsters might just drive the price sky high, at which point we will all be accused of price gouging…
Time to teach the lobsters some Pilates stretching exercises …….
Chinese out on the horizon are vacuuming the ocean bottom for everything they can get …everything !
Biden – Harris want “ breakable” rope in order to save all those the whales .
Do you suppose the bigger they are that the retail price will go down ?
Progressives keep telling us “ Lobsters Have Feelings Too “
What is the average “Mainer “ to think ?
Maybe Washington thinks the lobster boats pollute the fresh ocean air way to much and they really want to outlaw lobster fishing altogether .
Just think .
No more wood stoves .
No more lobsters .
75,000 new neighbors who don’t speak your language .
Oh what fun we will have if you vote for Kamala and Tim .