Measures for the Federal American Lobster Fishery
Summary
At the recommendation of the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission, we implemented new measures for the federal American lobster fishery in an interim final rule published on October 2, 2023.
The interim final rule implemented mandatory harvester electronic Vessel Trip Reporting (eVTR), including five additional lobster-specific data elements, for all federal lobster permit holders using a Great Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) approved eVTR application. Implementation of eVTRs began on April 1, 2024 with the requirement that all eVTRs must be completed prior to landing and submitted to GARFO within 48 hours of the conclusion of a fishing trip.
The interim final rule implemented ownership caps for Lobster Conservation Management Areas 2 and 3 and a maximum trap cap reduction implemented for Area 3. In a final rule published on May 30, 2024, we removed the ownership caps and a maximum trap cap reduction. This action is being taken because the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has withdrawn these measures from its Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster and recommended that we remove these measures from federal regulation.
Mandatory electronic harvester reporting requirements using the federal electronic vessel trip report (eVTR) for all federal lobster permit holders remain unchanged, and were required beginning April 1, 2024.