New England’s $510M Lobster Economy Reels From Near 40% Population Plunge
October 20, 2023 | 1 min to read
The population of young lobsters in critical fishing waters off New England has seen a significant decline of nearly 40%, leading to new restrictions for fishermen. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission reported a 39% drop in young lobsters in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank from 2020-22 compared to 2016-18, marking a concerning trend in lobster recruitment, according to Caitlin Starks, a senior fisheries management plan coordinator.
The population of young lobsters has declined nearly 40% in some of the most critical fishing waters off New England, officials said Wednesday, triggering new restrictions for the fishermen who harvest the valuable crustaceans.
Officials with the regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission said surveys have detected a 39% decline in young lobsters in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank areas for 2020-22 compared to 2016-18. The areas are among the most important lobster fishing grounds in the world.
The drop in lobster recruitment is a continuation of a recent trend off New England, said Caitlin Starks, senior fisheries management plan coordinator with the commission.
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