Junvenile Lobster Surveys

American lobster, Homarus americanus, are one of the most valuable commercial fisheries along the Atlantic coast. The last ten years have seen increases in lobster landings, rising from 62 million pounds in 1990 to 72 million pounds in 2001. Of this catch, approximately 80 percent are caught in state waters, which extend from zero to three miles from shore. The lobster fishery has seen incredible expansion in effort and landings since the late 1940s and early 1950s, when landings varied around 25 million pounds. American lobster are managed under Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for American Lobster. Waterbody or Watershed Names: GREAT BAY ESTUARY; ATLANTIC COAST