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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 34 Number 1
September 2006
DMF changes Area 2 lobster v-notch definition to 1/8"
BOSTON, MA - The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) implemented a new v-notch definition for Lobster Conservation Management Area 2 on Aug. 17.
The action means that all commercial fishermen authorized to fish in Area 2 are prohibited from possessing “any female lobster that bears a notch or indentation in the base of the flipper that is at least as deep as 1/8" with or without setal hairs.”
The previous v-notch definition in Area 2 was 1/4" straight sided, which DMF explained only protected a female lobster before it molted.
“The newly implemented definition will protect female lobsters with healed or molted flippers,” DMF said. “Protecting these lobsters through one or possibly two additional molts before they are subject to harvest (will) allow each female to extrude at least one additional clutch of eggs.”
Noting that the Southern New England lobster stock is considered “depressed” and must be rebuilt, DMF added that immediate action was necessary to protect Area 2 lobsters that had recently hatched their brood of eggs and would soon be molting.
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