US lobster fishermen get reprieve on ban
The American Lobster Management Board has shelved the proposal for a five-year ban on lobster catching south of Cape Cod.
The board, made up of representatives from each of the Eastern Seaboard states with lobster fisheries, voted unanimously to explore other, less severe measures to manage the southern New England fishery.
A committee of scientists recently reported to the board that the lobster population from Cape Cod to North Carolina had declined tremendously. It recommended the five-year ban to allow lobsters to rebound.
But board member Douglas Grout, head of the Marine Fisheries Division of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, proposed that a separate committee evaluate three alternative options: Reduce the region’s annual lobster catch by 75%, by 50%, or maintain the status quo.
Board members eventually reached a consensus to move away from the ban after deciding that closing down a fishery in order to manage it seemed contradictory.
Another factor in the board’s final decision will be the results of an independent review of the report that first recommended the five-year ban. The review will examine the assumptions and data in the original report and inform the board whether its projections of current lobster populations are valid.
Toni Kerns, chairwoman of the committee charged with investigating the alternatives, said she hoped to have an analysis of the other measures ready for the 8-11 November meeting in Charleston, SC. At that time, it is possible the board will reconsider a ban, if the alternatives appear to be ineffective.
Despite the motion passed by the board, many lobstermen remain concerned. Given the major concessions they have already made, even a 50% reduction would inflict major damage on their livelihood.
Some have already cut the number of lobster traps they use by more than half.
[Source: Boston Globe]
