Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Rocky Neck State Park is also closed until further notice due to a brush fire. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Lobster Fisheries Management

American Lobster

     

Investigating the presence of pesticides in American Lobster from Long Island Sound
A large and well documented lobster die-off occurred in Long Island Sound during late 1999. Since then, mortality events continue to be an annual fall occurrence in the Sound. Many lobstermen, concerned citizens and elected officials have expressed concern that pesticides might be somehow related to these lobster die-off events.

DEEP Marine Fisheries 2014 Lobster Monitoring Report
Detail results of sea-sampling, commercial landings, trawl survey and larval recruitment monitoring programs for American Lobster (Homarus americanus) conducted by the Marine Fisheries Division since 1982.

2015 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment Executive Summary
Highlights of the most recent lobster stock assessment which finds that the Southern New England stock is severely depleted and in need of protection, while the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank stocks show record abundance.

ASMFC American Lobster Management
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission management overview with links to all related materials.

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November 16, 2016

ASMFC Draft Addendum XXV to Amendment 3 to the American Lobster Fishery Management Plan
This draft document was developed for Management Board review and discussion during the October 2016 Lobster Board meeting.

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August 26, 2015

ASMFC Approves Jonah Crab Interstate Fishery Management Plan
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has approved the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Jonah Crab. The FMP implements a suite of measures to manage and monitor the Jonah crab resource for the first time along the U.S. Atlantic coast.

August 26, 2015

2015 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has released the final versions of the 2015 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report.

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August 25, 2015

Notice to Lobster Fishermen Lobster Closed Season - Reminder
This notice serves as a reminder of the upcoming fall season closure required under Addendum XVII to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (Commission) American Lobster Fishery Management Plan which was approved in November 2011. The season closure is the same as 2013 and 2014 and applies to all Long Island Sound waters (LMA 6), extends from September 8 through November 28, inclusive, and applies to both recreational and commercial fisheries and all gears. Between those dates possession of lobsters taken from LMA 6 or from traps with LMA 6 trap tags is prohibited.

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January 26, 2014

Control Date for American Lobster Conservation Management Areas
At the request of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, this notice announces a control date that may be applicable, but not limited to, limiting the number of permits or traps a business entity may own in Lobster Conservation Management Area 3 or in any of the Lobster Conservation Management Areas.

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December 21, 2010

Informational Meeting for Commercial Lobstermen
DEEP presentation by Marine Fisheries Division staff meeting with lobstermen to consider management alternatives to achieve a 50% to 75% reduction in exploitation (harvest).

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November 02, 2010

ASMFC Technical Committee Management Options Memo to the American Lobster Management Board
ASMFC American Lobster Technical Committee memorandum to the Management Board which evaluates a variety of management options for reducing exploitation rates on the Southern New England lobster stock.

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July 13/15, 2010

Informational Meeting for Commercial Lobstermen
DEEP presentation by Marine Fisheries Division staff who held two informational meetings with lobstermen to update them on activities of the ASMFC American Lobster Technical Committee and Management Board.

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April 17, 2010

ASMFC American Lobster Technical Committee Report: Stock Recruitment Failure in Southern New England
Report submitted to the ASMFC American Lobster Management Board outlining recruitment failure in the Southern New England American Lobster stock due to environmental drivers and continued fishing mortality.

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2010

ASMFC - Lobster Information
Link to American Lobster (Homarus americanus) information on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's website.

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Commercial Fisheries News 2010 Lobster Articles
A compilation of Southern New England lobster management articles taken from Commercial Fisheries NewsTM in 2010.

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Content last updated November 2016