Thursday, March 5, 2009

States Schedule Public Hearings on American Lobster Draft Addendum XIV

The states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum XIV to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow:

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and Rhode Island Fish & Wildlife
March 25, 2009; 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Fall River Heritage State Park
100 Frontage Rd
Fall River, Massachusetts
Contact: Shannon Davis at (617) 626-1621
* This is a joint hearing for both MA and RI fishermen

New York Department of Environmental Conservation
March 24, 2009; 7:00 PM
205 North Belle Meade Road
East Setauket, New York
Contact: Kim McKown at (631) 444-0444

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
March 26, 2009; 7:00 PM
Nacote Creek Research Station
Law Enforcement Office
360 Rt. 9 N (milepost 51)
Port Republic, New Jersey
Contact: Pete Himchak at (609) 749-2020

Draft Addendum XIV proposes modifications to the Lobster Conservation Management Area (LCMA) 3 trap transfer program, including changes to the conservation tax and trap cap. Specifically, its proposes applying a single conservation tax for partial trap transfers within LCMA 3 (versus a two tiered conservation tax based on the number of traps transferred) and another conservation tax for the sale of a complete fishing operation. It also proposes lowering the trap cap under the transfer program for Area 3 to 2000 (currently set at 2200 traps) in order to prevent permit holders from maximizing their trap allocations through trap allocation transfers and thereby nullifying any potential conservation benefits associated with trap transfers and conservation taxes.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on Draft Addendum XIV, either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. Copies of the Draft Addendum can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM on April 6, 2009 (EST) and should be forwarded to Toni Kerns, Senior FMP Coordinator for Management, 1444 ‘Eye’ Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at tkerns@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Addendum XIV).

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