Lobster Management Regulations

The lobster resource is a state and federally managed species. Since approximately 80% of the lobsters are caught in state waters and only 20% in federal waters, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) relinquished primary responsibility for lobster management, to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) on December 6, 1999 by changing the regulatory authority from the Magnuson-Stevens Act to the Atlantic States Fisheries Cooperative Management Act.

Lobster regulations are enforced through an area management process, and the lobster resource is divided into seven Lobster Conservation Management Areas which determine the regulations that must be followed when fishing in each particular area. Lobstermen fishing in multiple management areas must adhere to the most restrictive rules of all areas fished. Lobster regulations may be reviewed at the links provided below, or by logging on to the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission web site at www.asmfc.org

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)
• Addendum XV (November 2009)