Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
DEP Marine Fisheries News

ASMFC Hearing on American Lobster
Interstate Fishery Management Plan Amendments
December 23, 2009

The DEP Marine Fisheries Division is hosting a Public Hearing of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to take public comment on draft Addendum XVI to the Lobster Fishery Management Plan.

Draft Addendum XVI to the Lobster FMP proposes options for new management reference points for each of the three lobster stocks, including Long Island Sound waters as part of the southern New England stock area. The decision on new interim definitions of overfishing and stock abundance thresholds is significant as these reference points will guide management of the lobster resource for the next several years.

As you are aware, the lobster resource in southern New England remains depressed, particularly in major portions of Long Island Sound. The updated stock assessment and peer review completed in March 2009 found the southern New England stock has not improved, and is in need of stock rebuilding and further reductions in exploitation.

Copies of the Public Hearing Documents for these proposed management actions are available at http://www.asmfc.org by selecting “Breaking News” and then selecting the document of interest, or by contacting DEP Marine Fisheries as provided below.

The Hearing will be held at:

7:00 PM, Monday, January 11, 2010
DEP Marine Headquarters
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, CT 06371

I-95, Exit 70, Route 156 south to Ferry Road
in the Education Center located at the rear of the property

For further information, contact the DEP Marine Fisheries Division by email at dep.marine.fisheries@ct.gov, by mail at P.O. Box 719, Old Lyme, CT 06371 or by telephone at 860.434.6043 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.



In conformance with the ADA, individuals with disabilities who need this information in an alternative format to allow them to benefit and/or participate in the agency’s programs and services, should call 860.424.3051 or 860.418.5937 or e-mail Marcia Z. Bonitto, ADA Coordinator, at: Marcia.Bonitto@ct.gov. Requests for accommodations must be made at least two weeks prior to the program date.






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do not reply to this email; only the list moderator can post messages. To stop receiving these notices, send an email to: iMailSrv@list.state.ct.us with the text unsubscribe DEP-marine-fisheries in the body of the email, and leave the subject line blank.

This list is proudly sponsored by The Department of Information Technology - Internet Services.