Press Releases

Washington, DC – The Atlantic coastal states of Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey have scheduled the dates and times of their public meetings in order to gather public comment and input on the recently released Draft Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for American Lobster.  Following are the details of the scheduled meetings. September 5, 2001; 7:00 PM                                                         Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management             Narragansett Town Hall                                                                   25 Fifth Avenue                                                                                  Narragansett, Rhode Island                                                             Contact: Brian Murphy at (401)782-4713                                     September 6, 2001; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Maine Department of Marine ResourcesCasco Bay LinesCommercial StreetPortland,…

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…