Amendment to Address Conservation Equivalency
Arlington, Virginia – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission today approved Draft Amendment 4 to the American Lobster Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for public review and comment. The States of Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey will be scheduling public meetings in August and September 2001. Information on these meetings will be released once it becomes available.
The Draft Amendment, which was approved by the American Lobster Management Board, addresses options for the use of conservation equivalency for the non-trap gear limits and v-notch possession restrictions of Amendment 3. The concept of conservation equivalency is not a new one to the Commission and has been used in many of its fishery management plans. It provides states with the flexibility to adopt alternative management approaches, given that these approaches have been found to be conservationally similar to the required management measures.
Copies of the Draft Amendment will be available by late July 2001. Once available, copies of the Draft Amendment can be obtained by contacting either Vanessa Jones, Administrative Assistant, at (202) 289-6400, or via the Commission’s web site under “Public Input” at www.asmfc.org. Public comment should be forwarded to Heather Stirratt, American Lobster Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 1444 Eye Street, N.W., Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (fax). For more information, please contact Heather Stirratt at (202) 289-6400, ext. 301, or hstirratt@asmfc.org.