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Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
69th Annual Meeting Summary
AMERICAN LOBSTER MANAGEMENT BOARD (November 10, 2010)
Meeting Summary
The American Lobster Board reviewed a summary of the three Center for Independent Experts peer reviews of the Lobster Technical Committee’s (TC) report on Recruitment Failure in the Southern New England Stock. Copies of the reports will be made available on the ASMFC website on the lobster page. The three reports agreed that increases in sea temperatures and increased prevalence of shell disease indicate natural mortality likely increased, the SNE stock is “in a poor state,” and that a moratorium or severe reductions (75%) in fishing mortality are needed immediately to maximize chances of rebuilding the stock. One of the overall conclusions was that the TC report could be used for management of the SNE stock. The Board also reviewed a report by the TC evaluating the impacts on Southern New England (SNE) landings by using a variety of management options. The TC recommended that the Board use a combination of a quota and season closure (June through September) to achieve a 75% reduction in exploitation. The incorporation of a limited closed season in concert with a quota would provide maximum biological benefit during molt, egg extrusion, and high environmental stress periods. The TC emphasized that there is tremendous uncertainty in the effectiveness of any measure to reduce exploitation short of direct controls on landings. The report provided the Board with advice on each measure relative to previous experience in other fisheries, information currently available to the TC from the SNE stock, and a biologically driven approach to provide the maximum benefit to the resource. The Board tasked the Plan Development Team to develop a draft addendum for consideration at the March meeting to include two options: a suite of measures to achieve a 50% reduction in exploitation and a suite of measures to achieve a 75% reduction in exploitation.
For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator for Management, at (703) 842-0740 or tkerns@asmfc.org.
Motions
Move to accept the peer review reports.
Motion made by Mr. P. White and seconded by Mr. Augustine. Motion carries.
Move that a PDT develop a draft addendum for consideration at the next meeting to include two options: a suite of measures to achieve a 50% reduction in exploitation, and a suite of measures to achieve a 75% reduction in exploitation.
Motion made by Mr. Lapointe and seconded by Mr. Augustine. Motion carries unanimously.
69th Annual Meeting Summary
AMERICAN LOBSTER MANAGEMENT BOARD (November 10, 2010)
Meeting Summary
The American Lobster Board reviewed a summary of the three Center for Independent Experts peer reviews of the Lobster Technical Committee’s (TC) report on Recruitment Failure in the Southern New England Stock. Copies of the reports will be made available on the ASMFC website on the lobster page. The three reports agreed that increases in sea temperatures and increased prevalence of shell disease indicate natural mortality likely increased, the SNE stock is “in a poor state,” and that a moratorium or severe reductions (75%) in fishing mortality are needed immediately to maximize chances of rebuilding the stock. One of the overall conclusions was that the TC report could be used for management of the SNE stock. The Board also reviewed a report by the TC evaluating the impacts on Southern New England (SNE) landings by using a variety of management options. The TC recommended that the Board use a combination of a quota and season closure (June through September) to achieve a 75% reduction in exploitation. The incorporation of a limited closed season in concert with a quota would provide maximum biological benefit during molt, egg extrusion, and high environmental stress periods. The TC emphasized that there is tremendous uncertainty in the effectiveness of any measure to reduce exploitation short of direct controls on landings. The report provided the Board with advice on each measure relative to previous experience in other fisheries, information currently available to the TC from the SNE stock, and a biologically driven approach to provide the maximum benefit to the resource. The Board tasked the Plan Development Team to develop a draft addendum for consideration at the March meeting to include two options: a suite of measures to achieve a 50% reduction in exploitation and a suite of measures to achieve a 75% reduction in exploitation.
For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator for Management, at (703) 842-0740 or tkerns@asmfc.org.
Motions
Move to accept the peer review reports.
Motion made by Mr. P. White and seconded by Mr. Augustine. Motion carries.
Move that a PDT develop a draft addendum for consideration at the next meeting to include two options: a suite of measures to achieve a 50% reduction in exploitation, and a suite of measures to achieve a 75% reduction in exploitation.
Motion made by Mr. Lapointe and seconded by Mr. Augustine. Motion carries unanimously.
