PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The population of young lobsters has declined nearly 40% in some of the most critical fishing waters off New England, officials said Wednesday, triggering new restrictions for the fishermen who harvest the valuable crustaceans.
Officials with the regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission said surveys have detected a 39% decline in young lobsters in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank areas for 2020-22 compared to 2016-18.
“We're seeing decline in those recruits.”The commission announced the drop in young lobsters just months after adopting new rules designed to better protect the creatures from overfishing.
The new rules state that fishermen must adhere to stricter size limitations on the lobsters they can catch when the young lobsters show a decline of 35% or more.
How much the new rules will impact the availability or price of lobsters to U.S. consumers is difficult to say.
Persons:
Caitlin Starks, “, we've, ” Starks, ”, Patrick Keliher, Keliher, ” Keliher
Organizations:
States Marine Fisheries Commission, Georges Bank, Maine Department of Marine Resources
Locations:
PORTLAND, Maine, New England, Gulf of Maine, England, U.S, Canada