Lobstering Question

[Rafael]

I just got my lobster permit, and checking on the regulation sis a section about V-shape notch lobster, wiht or without setal hairs?. could somebody give me some tips about how to recognize this kind of bug? i been looking for pictures in the internet as well and i have not find anything.

As well i will like to know what is the reason to preserve that kind of lobster?

Thank you on advance.

 

[mtsidford]

The v-notch is man made and clearly recognizable on the tail fin of the lobster, typically found on the fin between the center and outer right. If you look at the very end fins of a lobster tail you will notice little hairs, these are the setel hairs. They should cover the end of each finlet. If you notice a section missing then it's likely due to man. You are getting you lobster permit a little late in the season as the bugs tend to go to deeper water this time of year and are not as likely to be found from shore. Get one early next year the best time to lobster dive is during May and June. Sid

 

[Rafael]

The v-notch is man made and clearly recognizable on the tail fin of the lobster, typically found on the fin between the center and outer right. If you look at the very end fins of a lobster tail you will notice little hairs, these are the setel hairs. They should cover the end of each finlet. If you notice a section missing then it's likely due to man. You are getting you lobster permit a little late in the season as the bugs tend to go to deeper water this time of year and are not as likely to be found from shore. Get one early next year the best time to lobster dive is during May and June. Sid

Thank you Sid, so why do they do that to the lobster is part of some kind of research?
And yes i know i got my license late, but the lady on the desk din't tell me anything till she issue the license when i find out it was good till the end of December i was kind of desappointed, but well too late now.

In the other hand the most of my dives are boat dives, so i have seen some bugs in the Boston Harbor outer islands, we'll see if i can catch a couple in November and the i may hang the gear for a few months till gets warmer again.

 

[mtsidford]

The v-notch is made by responsible lobstermen and divers who wish to catch more lobsters in the future. If you come across an egg berring female lobster you should make a notch in the tail to indicate to others that may run across her that she is capable of berring eggs and has done so previously.
The beauty of the beginning of the season is that the lobsters haven't mated yet so most females don't have eggs, previous v-notches may no longer be there due to shedding there shells over the winter. Plus the lobstermen haven't caught the majority of legals yet. Enjoy Cancun. Sid

 

[decapoddiver]

Do not notch a lobster! Only commercial guys are allowed to do it. If you do it, it's considered mutilation. Also, the notch lasts for many molts and many years so going "earlier" in the season doesn't really improve your chances too much regarding notched females.


BTW, some of my best lobstering has been Oct-Nov. Don't give up hope yet.

 

[Mark_N]

PG Dive has a link with some info and drawings showing type of lobster. There is also a little more info available if you follow the link to Maine's website.

http://www.pgdive.com/NewsAboutLobsters.htm#About_Lobsters

 

[MASS-Diver]

Do not notch a lobster! Only commercial guys are allowed to do it. If you do it, it's considered mutilation. Also, the notch lasts for many molts and many years so going "earlier" in the season doesn't really improve your chances too much regarding notched females.


BTW, some of my best lobstering has been Oct-Nov. Don't give up hope yet.

Ditto.

V-notching remains controversial, espically with ugly lobster diease so prevalent these days.

 

[SadiesMom]

Do not notch a lobster! Only commercial guys are allowed to do it. If you do it, it's considered mutilation.

Just reviewed the Mass regs and that's not my reading of them. Commercial lobstermen are REQUIRED to V-notch egg-bearing females (i.e. mandatory v-notching). There's nothing in the regs that I see that prohibits a diver from voluntarily v-notching an egg-bearing female lobster to protect the resource. (And prior to 2003, even the commercial guys weren't required to do this - it was voluntary.)

What IS in the regs is this: "e) Mutilated V-notch. For purposes of complying with 322 CMR 6.02(3), it is unlawful for any person to possess a female lobster that is mutilated in a manner that could hide, obscure or obliterate such a mark. The flipper right of the center flipper will be examined when the underside of the lobster is down and its tail is toward the person making the determination." That makes it illegal for a diver to OBSCURE a v-notch by cutting away any part of the flipper to make it look like the female lobster was never v-notched to begin with....

Those are two very different things. A non-commercial diver v-notching a berried lobster voluntarily to protect the resource is not mutilating the lobster, nor is that mentioned anywhere in the regs (that I see, anyway). The issue of mutilation comes when a diver tries to outfox the regs by trying to take a previously v-notched lobster by cutting away the notch...basically illegally taking the notched lobster...

Of course, I could be wrong, but I'm a kind of a policy wonk used to reading government regs... Read section 6.02, subsection 3, which covers V-notching lobsters....

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/commercialfishing/322cmr6.htm

 

[LobstaMan]

You may be right, Mom, but I wouldn't like to 'splain that to my friendly neighorhood EPO. He/she might interpret the regs a little differently.

LobstaMan

 

[SadiesMom]

You may be right, Mom, but I wouldn't like to 'splain that to my friendly neighorhood EPO. He/she might interpret the regs a little differently.

LobstaMan

Well, you're certainly not *required* to v-notch like the commercial guys are. So if you don't, there's no legal downside. But unless your friendly neighborhood EPO is underwater watching you v-notch an egger, he's not going to even know you did it, because you'd be v-notching her and letting her go..right? The only time I see EPOs checking is on boats or as you're coming out of the water. And God knows *no one* here would have a v-notch OR an egger in their bag, right?

Again..there's no *requirement* for any diver to v-notch an egger...mandatory v-notching is limited to the commercial guys. But neither do I see any restriction in the regs to prevent a diver from v-notching an egger if s/he feels so inclined to help protect the resource. And frankly, I just can't see an EPO giving anyone crap for v-notching an egger and leaving her there to breed unmolested for another couple of years....

Here's a thought...next time you run into your friendly neighborhood EPO, just ask him/her. Then you can find out from the horse's mouth (so to speak ) and let us know what the scoop is for sure. ('cause now I'm really curious!)