February 4, 2014 — The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s American Lobster Management Board approved Draft Addendum XXIV to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Lobster Fishery Management Plan for public comment. Draft Addendum XXIV responds to recently finalized trap transfer regulations for the federal waters of Lobster Conservation Management Areas 2, 3, and Outer Cape Cod. While the majority of the implemented federal water measures are based on Commission recommendations and are consistent with the Commission plan, there are a few measures which are either inconsistent or are not addressed by the Commission plan. Specifically, the Draft Addendum includes options to better align state and federal measures regarding the conservation tax on trap allocations when whole fishing businesses are transferred, trap allocation transfer increments, and restrictions on trap allocation transfers among permit holders who are authorized to fish both state and federal waters within a single lobster management area.
States are not anticipated to conduct hearings on the Draft Addendum, since NOAA Fisheries has already held hearings on the same issues. Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on Draft Addendum XXIV, which can be obtained at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/AmLobsterDraftAddendumXXIV_PublicComment.pdf or via the Commission’s website, www.asmfc.org, under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on March 20, 2015 and should be forwarded to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Lobster Draft Addendum XXIV).
For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, ISFMP Director, at tkerns@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.