HABITATS PARTNERS MASSACHUSETTS LOBSTER FISHING The waters off Massachusetts are The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association important feeding habitat for protected and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and endangered whales, including minke, have partnered with whale watch companies, humpback, finback, and North Atlantic the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, THE RIGHT WAY right whales. The right whale population is the Ocean Conservancy, local restaurants, fish estimated at 400 individuals. markets, and seafood dealers to bring you the Massachusetts Lobster labeling and promotion program.

Ask your local seafood retailer or restaurant for Massachusetts Lobster!

www.masslobster.org

Massachusetts lobstermen have removed 3,000 miles of floating rope from the water column since switching to sinking groundline to reduce the risk of entanglements. Massachusetts is protecting The conservation efforts of Massachusetts lobstermen make our whales and preserving its local waters safer for all large whale species. lobster industry. THE AMERICAN MASSACHUSETTS LOBSTER LOBSTER GEAR LOBSTER LABEL

The American Lobster is fished from Canada to Lobster gear is connected to the surface by Many Massachusetts lobstermen are voluntarily New Jersey. In Massachusetts, the near-shore a buoyline, which allows fishermen to locate labeling their catch to identify the product as lobster fishery consists of independent fishermen their traps and haul them to the surface. In locally-caught and to signify their contribution to who operate their own vessels. Lobster is the Massachusetts, traps are typically connected whale protection. most valuable species caught in Massachusetts on the seafloor in 10- 25 pot strings using a waters. “groundline.” The Massachusetts Lobster label allows consumers to identify local lobsters, caught About 900 Massachusetts lobstermen fish in the However,  by Massachusetts lobstermen using gear that near-shore area from vessels that range in size groundlines reduces the risk of whale entanglements. from 18 to 42 made of floating Sinking line is more expensive and wears out feet. They set rope rise up in faster, but Massachusetts lobstermen have baited traps the water column made a substantial investment in whale-safer on the ocean and can entangle gear and are complying with regulations. floor to attract large whales and Besides sinking groundlines, Massachusetts lobsters and other marine life. lobstermen have other rules to protect whales, typically make including: day-trips to Entangle- haul between ment in • Break-away links at the base of surface 150 and 400 fishing gear buoys traps per day. is a major • Lost gear removal programs State-wide they set around 360,000 traps per cause of • Seasonal gear restrictions in Right year and land about 9 million pounds of lobster. injury and Whale Critical Habitat in Cape Cod Bay The majority of landings and effort takes place mortality from June - October. for large Massachusetts lobstermen also participate in whales.The a federal process to identify other measures to The fishery is regulated with trap limits, “escape use of sinking groundlines reduces the risk of reduce the risk of any interaction with vents” to allow undersized lobster to escape, and entanglement by removing that rope from the whales. rules on allowable minimum and maximum sizes water column. of lobster. All egg- Support the bearing females Massachusetts lobster are released. Most Massachusetts is the first and industry and support fishermen mark the shells of egg- only state to require year-round whale protection. bearing females use of sinking groundline in all which protects the state waters. lobster from harvest for 2 to 4 years.