The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) just voted to delay the planned gauge change to increase the minimum allowable catch size in Lobster Management Area 1 until July 1, 2025. The Commission also approved Addendum 30, which clarifies that lobsters imported from Canada under the U.S. minimum size would be banned.

The proposed gauge increase, known as Addendum 27, was a response to a 35 percent decline in juvenile lobsters. This proactive measure, initiated in 2017, was aimed at enhancing the resilience of lobster stock and was initially set to be implemented on June 1, 2024. However, following feedback from the Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioners and others, a compromise was reached, resulting in a seven-month delay and a new implementation date of Jan. 1, 2025.

The initial delay in the gauge implementation was intended to allow the Maine lobster fishery to work with Canadian fisheries officials on management measures. This joint effort is crucial to ensure the equity and resilience of the lobster stock on both sides of the border. Without this collaboration, the risk of Canadian fishermen harvesting the same lobsters and selling them to U.S. markets remains, potentially leading to severe economic consequences.

The Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) announced today that ASMFC voted 9-1 to delay Addendum 27 a second time until July 1, 2025, and Addendum 30 passed unanimously. Maine lobstermen, fishing groups, and Congressman Jared Golden have written and provided feedback to ASMFC about the concerns about Addendum 27 and 30 and how this could affect commercial lobstermen and Maine’s economy.

“The unanimous vote on Addendum 30 is a step in the right direction, and the further delay of Addendum 27 will give us time to get used to the planned increase,” said Craig Stewart, MLA board vice president.

Golden wrote that he is “deeply concerned about the implications a gauge increase next year- absent robust economic and scientific analyses- will have on the viability of Maine’s lobster industry and the communities it supports.”

The MLA mentioned in their comment letter from April 2023 regarding the previous draft of Addendum 27 to clarify “potential trade issues arising from the Magnuson Act prohibition on the import and sale of lobsters smaller than the U.S.” The passing of Addendum 30 clarifies these import issues.

“ASMFC listened to the Maine lobster industry about the serious unintended consequences of a U.S.-only gauge increase,” said Kristan Porter, president of the MLA board. “Delaying the gauge increase until July 2025 is a big win for lobstermen, allowing Maritime Canada to consider increasing its gauge and the U.S. fishery to prepare for reduced landings and market disruptions.”