For Release: August 27, 1999

Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

PROVIDENCE - Lobstermen in Rhode Island may continue to harvest lobsters with a 3- 1/4 inch minimum gauge until next June, when a size increase goes into effect. This comes as a result of actions taken last night by the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council. The Council had previously planned to establish a 1/32-inch increase in the lobster minimum gauge size on September 1, but voted last night to delay implementation of the minimum size increase until June 1, 2000.

Minimum gauge determines if lobsters are of "legal" size. A lobster's measurement extends from the rear of the eye socket to the rear of its body shell. Currently, lobsters must have a 3 1/4 inch minimum gauge; the size will increase next June to 3 and 9/32 inches.

Potentially, Rhode Island would have been the only state in the U.S. with the new gauge size, putting local lobstermen and dealers at an economic disadvantage, noted David Borden, the Department of Environmental Management's Assistant Director of Natural Resource Services. The 1/32-inch increase translates into a catch reduction of six to nine percent. Borden, who chaired last night's meeting, said the delay will allow the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council's policy board to set coast-wide minimum gauge guidelines in the fall.

Lobstermen and dealers testifying at the meeting showed continued support for a minimum gauge size increase as a proven means of reducing fishing mortality and increasing lobster egg production. However, they also felt that increases in the minimum size should be done in unison, by all states and in federal waters.

The eventual increase in gauge size was among several changes to lobster management regulations made by the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council, as a result of public hearings in 1998. The management measures were developed through deliberations between lobster fishermen and federal and state scientists and administrators and deal with over-fishing of American lobster from Labrador to North Carolina.

Lobster fishery in Rhode Island is an $18-$20 million annual dockside industry that provides an $80-$100 million yearly economic benefit to the state. Lobster landings, which peaked in 1991 at 7 1/2 million pounds, have since dropped to 5 million pounds.