August 5, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries is proposing a modification to the Lobster Conservation Management Area 4 seasonal closure at the recommendation of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which leads the management for American lobster.
Under the proposed rule, the Area 4 closure would be changed from February 1-March 31 to April 30-May 31.
This measure is designed to better reduce fishing effort on the Southern New England lobster stock, which is in poor condition. This area closure shift has already been implemented by states adjacent to Area 4.
Read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register.
The comment period is open through September 4. Submit your comments online through Regulations.gov or by mailing your comments to:
John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator
NMFS,Greater Atlantic Regional Office
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
Please mark the outside of the envelope: Comments on American Lobster Proposed Rule.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, at 978-281-9175 or Jennifer.Goebel@noaa.gov.