§ 697.18 - Lobster management areas.

§ 697.18 Lobster management areas.

Cross Reference

Link to an amendment published at 88 FR 67677, Oct. 2, 2023.

The following lobster management areas are established for purposes of implementing the management measures specified in this part. (A copy of a chart showing the American lobster EEZ management areas is available upon request to the Office of the Regional Administrator, NMFS, 1 Blackburn 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.)

(a) EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1. EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1 is defined by the area, including includes state and Federal federal waters that are nearshore in the Gulf of Maine , bounded by straight lines connecting the following points, in the order stated, and the coastline of Mainethat are bounded on the west and north by the coastlines of Massachusetts (including the southwestern extent of the Cape Cod Canal), New Hampshire, and Massachusetts to the northernmost point of Cape Cod:

Point Latitude Longitude A43°58′ N.67°22′ W. B43°41′ N.68°00′ N. C43°12′ N.69°00′ W. D42°49′ N.69°40′ W.

Maine, bounded on the east by the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, and bounded on the southeast by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines:

Table 1 to Paragraph (a)

.70°40′ . .. .. .. .. 35′ ..

Point	Latitude	Longitude	Notes
A	43°58.25′ N	67°21.44′ W	(1)
B	43°41′ N	68°00′ N
C	43°12′ N	69°00′ W
D	42°49′ N	69°40′ W
E	42°15.5′ N	69°40′ W
F	42°10′ N	69°56′ W
G	42°05.5′ N	70°14′ W
G1	H	42°04.25′ N	70°17.22′ W
G2	I	42°02.84′ N	70°16.1′ W
G3	J	42°03.	4′ N	70°14.2′ W

(1)

From point “G3” along the coastline of Massachusetts, including the southwestern end of the Cape Cod Canal, continuing along the coastlines of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and the seaward EEZ boundary back to Point A.

(2) [Reserved]

(

Point A is intended to fall on the U.S./Canada Maritime Boundary.

(b) EEZ Nearshore Management Area 2. EEZ Nearshore Management Area 2 is defined by the area, including includes state and Federal federal waters that are nearshore in Southern New England that are bounded on the north by the coastlines of Massachusetts (including the northeastern extent of the Cape Cod Canal) and Rhode Island, and bounded by straight lines connecting on all other sides by the following points , connected in the order stated: listed by straight lines:

Table 2 to Paragraph (b)

.. . N. ... .. .71°14′ . .. .. .. .. .

Point	Latitude	Longitude
H
Notes
A	41°40′ N	70°05′ W
I	B	41°15′ N	70°05′	J	W
C	41°21.5′ N	69°16.5′ W.	K	69°16′ W
D	41°10′ N	69°06.5′ W
L	E	40°55′ N	68°54′ W
M	F	40°27.5′ N	72°14′ W
N	G	40°45.5′ N	71°34′ W
O	H	41°07′ N	71°43′ W
P	I	41°06.5′ N	71°47′ W
Q	J	41°11.5′ N	71°47.25′ W
R	K	41°18.5′ N	71°54.5′ W	(1)

From point “R” along the

(1) From Point K, the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 2 follows the maritime boundary between Connecticut and Rhode Island to the coastal Connecticut/Rhode Island boundary

and then back to point “H” along the Rhode Island and Massachusetts coast, including the northeastern end of the Cape Cod Canal

.

(

2) [Reserved]

(c) Area 2/3 Overlap. The Area 2/3 Overlap is defined by the area, comprised entirely of Federal waters, bounded by straight lines connecting the following points, in the order stated:

Table 3 to Paragraph (c)

.. .. .. .

Point	Latitude	Longitude
K	A	41°10′ N	69°06.5′ W
L	B	40°55′ N	68°54′ W
M	C	40°27.5′ N	72°14′ W
N	D	40°45.5′ N	71°34′ W
A	41°10′ N	69°06.5′ W

(d) EEZ Offshore Management Area 3. EEZ Offshore Management Area 3 is defined by the area, comprised entirely of Federal waters, bounded by straight lines connecting the following points, in the order stated:

Table 4 to Paragraph (d)

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .

Point	Latitude	Longitude	Notes
A	43°58′ N.	67°22′ W.	43°58.25′ N	67°21′ W	(1),(2)
B	43°41′ N	68°00′ W
C	43°12′ N	69°00′ W
D	42°49′ N	69°40′ W
E	42°15.5′ N	69°40′ W
F	42°10′ N	69°56′ W	K
G	42°21.5 N	69°16′ W
H	41°10′ N	69°06.5′ W
N	I	40°45.5′ N	71°34′ W
M	J	40°27.5′ N	72°14′ W
U	K	40°12.5′ N	72°48.5′ W
V	L	39°50′ N	73°01′ W
X	M	38°39.5′ N	73°40′ W
Y	N	38°12′ N	73°55′ W
Z	O	37°12′ N	74°44′ W
ZA	P	35°34′ N	74°51′ W
ZB	Q	35°14.5′ N	75°31′ W
ZC	R	35°14.5′ N	71°24′ W	(2)

(1) Point A is intended to fall on the U.

From point “ZC” along the seaward EEZ boundary to point “A”.

S.-Canada Maritime Boundary

(2) From Point R back to Point A along the outer limit of the US EEZ and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary

(e) EEZ Nearshore Management Area 4. EEZ Nearshore Management Area 4 is defined by the area, including includes state and Federal waters that are near-shore federal waters nearshore in the northern Mid-Atlantic, bounded by straight lines connecting the following points, in the order stated:

Point	Latitude	Longitude
M	40°27.5′ N.	72°14′ W.
N	40°45.5′ N.	71°34′ W.
O	41°07′ N.	71°43′ W.
P	41°06.5′ N.	71°47′ W.
S	40°58′ N.	72°00′ W.
T	41°00.5′ N.	72°00′ W.
From Point “T”, along the New York/New Jersey coast to Point “W”
W	39°50′ N.	74°09′ W.
V	39°50′ N.	73°01′ W.
U	40°12.5′ N.	72°48.5′ W.
From Point “U” back to Point “M”.

(

on the west and north by the coastlines of New Jersey and New York (crossing the East River at 74° W), and bounded on all other sides by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines, unless otherwise noted:

Table 5 to Paragraph (e)

Point	Latitude	Longitude	Notes
A	41°0.7′ N	72°00′ W
B	40°57.33′ N	72°00′ W	(1),(2)
C	41°06.5′ N	71°47′ W	(2),(3)
D	41°07′ N	71°43′ W
E	40°45.5′ N	71°34′ W
F	41°27.5′ N	72°14′ W
G	40°12.5′ N	72°48.5′ W
H	39°50′ N	73°01′ W
I	39°50′ N	72°09.2′ W

(1) Point B is intended to fall along the Three Nautical Mile line.

(2) From Point B to Point C following the Three Nautical Mile line.

(3) Point C is intended to fall along the Three Nautical Mile line.

(f) EEZ Nearshore Management Area 5. EEZ Nearshore Management Area 5 is defined by the area, including includes state and Federal waters that are near-shore nearshore in the southern Mid-Atlantic, bounded on the west by straight lines connecting the following points, the coastline of the United states, and bounded on all other sides by the following points connected in the order stated: listed by straight lines:

Table 6 to Paragraph (f)

74°09′ . .. .. .. .. .. ..

Point	Latitude	Longitude
W	A	39°50′ N	74°09.	2′ W
V1	B	39°50′ N	72°55′ W
X1	C	38°38.2′ N	73°33.8′ W
Y1	D	38°10.4′ N	73°49′ W
Z1	E	37°10.6′ N	74°38′ W
ZA1	F	35°31.9′ N	74°45.5′ W
ZB1	G	35°14.5′ N	75°19.3′ W
ZB	H	35°14.5′ N	75°31.	75°31′ W.

From Point “ZB”, along the coasts of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey back to Point “W”.

(g

5′ W

(g) Area 3/5 Overlap. The Area 3/5 Overlap includes state and Federal waters in the southern Mid-Atlantic bounded by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines:

Table 7 to Paragraph (g)

Point	Latitude	Longitude
A	39°50′ N	73°01′ W
B	39°50′ N	72°55′ W
C	38°38.2′ N	73°33.8′ W
D	38°10.4′ N	73°49′ W
E	37°10.6′ N	74°38′ W
F	35°31.9′ N	74°45.5′ W
G	35°14.5′ N	75°19.3′ W
H	35°14.5′ N	75°31′ W
I	35°34′ N	74°51′ W
J	37°12′ N	74°44′ W
K	38°12′ N	73°55′ W
L	38°39.5′ N	73°40′ W
A	39°50′ N	73°01′ W

(h) Nearshore Management Area 6. The Nearshore Management Area 6

is defined by the area, including

includes New York and Connecticut state waters, bounded by

straight lines connecting the following points, in the order stated: Point Latitude Longitude T41°00.5′ N.72°00′ W. S40°58′ N.72°00′ W. From Point “S”, boundary follows the 3 mile limit of New York as it curves around Montauk Point to Point “P” P41°06.5′ N.71°47′ W. Q41°11′30″ N.71°47′15″ W. R41°18′30″ N.71°5′30″ W. From point “R”, along the

the Long Island Sound coastlines of both states (including the East River until 74° W, and the northern extent of the Harlem River), and bounded on the east by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines:

Table 8 to Paragraph (h)

Point	Latitude	Longitude	Notes
A	41°0.7′ N	72°00′ W
B	40°57.33′ N	72°00′ W	(1)(2)
C	41°06.5′ N	71°47′ W	(2)(3)
D	41°11.5″ N	71°47.25″ W
E	41°18.5″ N	71°54.5″ W	(4)

(1) Point B is intended to fall along the Three Nautical Mile line.

(2) From Point B to Point C following the Three Nautical Mile line.

(3) Point C is intended to fall along the Three Nautical Mile line.

(4) From Point E, the Nearshore Management Area 6 follows the maritime boundary between Connecticut and Rhode Island to the

coast; then west along the coast of Connecticut to the western entrance of Long Island Sound; then east along the New York coast of Long Island Sound and back to Point “T”.

(h

coastal Connecticut/Rhode Island boundary.

(i) EEZ Nearshore Outer Cape Lobster Management Area. EEZ Nearshore Outer Cape Lobster Management Area

is defined by the area, including

includes state and Federal waters off Cape Cod, bounded by

straight lines connecting

the following points

,

connected in the order

stated: G1

listed by straight lines, unless otherwise noted:

Table 9 to Paragraph (i)

Point	Latitude	Longitude

F42°10′ N.69°56′ W. G42°05.5′ N.70°14′ W.

Notes
A	41°54.46′ N	70°03.99′ W	(1)
B	41°52′ N	70°07.49′ W
C	42°02.84′ N	70°16.1′ W
D	42°04.25′ N

.

(1) From Point “G5” along the outer Cape Cod coast to Point “H”:

Point	Latitude	Longitude
H	41°40′ N.	70°05′ W.
H1	41°18′ N.	70°05′ W.

(2) From Point “H1” along the eastern coast of Nantucket Island to Point “I”:

Point	Latitude	Longitude
I	41°15′ N.	70°00′ W.
J	41°21.5′ N.	69°16′ W.

(3) From Point “J” back to Point “F”.

(i)

70°17.22′ W

. G242°02.84′ N.70°16.1′ W. G441°52.′ N.70°07.49′ W. G541°54.46′ N.70°03.99′ W.

E	42°05.5′ N	70°14′ W
F	42°10′ N	69°65′ W
G	41°21.5′ N	69°16′ W
H	41°15′ N	70°05′ W
I	41°40′ N	70°05′ W	(1)

(1) From Point I back to Point A following the outer coastline of Cape Cod.

(j) Area management. NMFS may, consistent with § 697.25, implement management measures necessary for each management area, in order to end overfishing and rebuild stocks of American lobster.

[64 88 FR 6824867677, DecOct. 6, 1999, as amended at 68 FR 14930, Mar. 27, 2003; 71 FR 13037, Mar. 14, 20062, 2023]