The American Lobster Pot

The American Lobster Pot

American steel lobster pots
This is a picture of a lobster pot which is used in the U.S. This type of pot is widely used in the States and as part of lobster conservation methods there is a restriction on the amount of lobster pots each boat can use. This has proved a very successful plan curtailing lobster stock depletion. Each pot has a tag attached to it so that each can account for the amount of pots they have and any boat who is boarded by the authorities and has pots(or traps as there known in the U.S) without tags will receive a hefty fine. Notice the black plastic piece with the slot out of it this is for letting the smaller lobsters escape from the pot. This allows Lobsters below the minimum size pass through the Lobster pot. It is illegal to land a Hen Lobster carrying eggs in the U.S. This is an excellent idea and I think it should be enforced in the Irish waters also. Also in some parts of the U.S there is a minimum lobster size but also a maximum size! Here is some useful contrasts between Ireland and some other countries

Regulation

USA

Maine

Norway

UK

France

Jersey

Ireland

Berried female protection

Yes

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum size

Yes

Yes

Yes

87mm

85mm

85mm

85mm

Maximum size

Yes

Yes

 

Proposed

 

 

 

"V-notching"

Yes

Yes

 

6 areas

 

 

Yes

Licensing

Yes

Yes

 

8 areas

Limited

Yes

 

Trap limits

 

Yes

 

 

Yes

 

 

Gear regulation

Yes

Yes

 

 

Yes

 

 

Reserves

 

 

 

 

20 locatio ns

 

 

Other

Escape vents, Lobster fund (from license fee), Logbooks, Lobster fishing areas.


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