Please Join MLA in Supporting Another Delay in the Gauge Increase
September 20, 2024... ASMFC has proposed to further delay the LMA 1 gauge increase by 6 months, to July 1, 2025. The gauge increase was originally scheduled to take effect on June 1, 2024, but was delayed until January 1, 2025. In order to delay the gauge increase, ASMFC must adopt draft Addendum XXXI. ASMFC is accepting public comment on the draft management document until October 6 and is holding a public hearing via webinar on September 23, 2024, from 6pm to 8pm.
The ASMFC Lobster Board will vote on whether or not to approve delaying in the LMA 1 gauge increase to July 1 during its Annual Meeting on October 21.
ASMFC needs to hear from lobstermen! Please join to MLA in supporting delaying the gauge increase to July 1, 2025. A delay in the gauge increase will provide ASMFC more time to:
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review the latest survey data and trends in the lobster stock from ongoing surveys
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review the preliminary findings of the updated lobster stock assessment in the Spring of 2025
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allow Canada more time to consider implementing complementary management measures to change its gauge for its Gulf of Maine lobster fisheries
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better understand the negative impacts of a US only gauge increase on lobstermen and lobster dealers/processors and allow the US lobster industry time to prepare if Canada does not increase its lobster gauge.
Summary of ASMFC Addendum XXXI
ASMFC initiated Draft Addendum XXXI to consider further delaying the LMA 1 gauge increase by an additional six months to July 1, 2025. The gauge increase was originally scheduled to take effect on June 1, 2024 but was delayed until January 1, 2025.
The purpose of postponing the changes in minimum gauge size for LCMA 1 is to reduce negative impacts to the US and Canadian lobster industries in 2025 and allow Canada more time to consider implementing complementary management measures. This action will also delay implementation of measures to create a common size limit for state-only and federal permit holders fishing in the Outer Cape Cod management area.
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ASMFC is holding a public hearing via webinar on September 23, 2024 from 6pm to 8pm. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.
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The deadline to submit comments is October 6, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
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Email: comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Lobster Draft Addendum XXXI)
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Mail: Caitlin Starks, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 1050 N. Highland St. Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA 22201
Background
Addendum XXVII established a trigger mechanism to automatically implement management measures to provide additional protection of the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank (GOM/GBK) spawning stock biomass. Under Addendum XXVII, changes to gauge and escape vent sizes in Lobster Conservation Management Areas (LCMAs) 1 (Gulf of Maine), 3 (offshore federal waters) and Outer Cape Cod (OCC) were triggered in October 2023 based on an observed decline in recruit abundance indices of >35% from the reference level (equal to the three-year average from 2016-2018), which triggered management changes to be implemented by June 1, 2024.
