According to the information there is string recommendation from Atlantic States Marine Fisheries report to impose a five-year ban on lobster fishing from south of Cape Cod to North Carolina to allow depleted stocks to recover. The Lobster Technical Committee says lobster levels in southern New England waters have dropped in 10 years from 35 million to 15 million.
Reacting to the demand of the report the lobster board of New England is set to meet to discuss possible alternatives. The board is also demanding an independent review of the report that suggested the moratorium. No final decision will be made for at least three months, after a public comment period. Experts believe that the propose ban would not affect the Gulf of Maine or Georges Bank, where the majority of the catch comes from. In southern New England, the number of lobsters taken has dropped 40 percent in the past eight years.
