2. Regulatory Alternatives Affecting Lobster Trapping. 



a. Status quo: Unrestricted fishing for spiny lobster. within 

 all boundary alternatives. 



The survey of fishing activity in Looe Key disclosed that 

 approximately 58,000 lbs. of lobster were caught in the Looe Key 5 square 

 nautical mile sanctuary boundary alternative by 25 fishermen in 1978 

 (see Appendix C, Table 4.) The catch was primarily in areas other than 

 the Fore Reef. 



Lobster traps are generally set along the Florida reef tract, 

 according to the season. In early fall, at the beginning of the State 

 allowable harvest season, pots are numerous in the patch reef areas close 

 to shore. According to local fishermen, lobsters begin migrating in 

 October and November to cooler, deeper water. Pots are then placed in 

 and seaward of the reef tract (Armitt, 1979). 



At the present time, there are no promulgated regulations to 

 control the impacts of trapping spiny lobster in Federal waters. The 

 GMFMC has a Spiny Lobster Plan under consideration because the fishery, 

 both commercially and recreational ly, is particularly active in Florida. 

 The plan includes proposed management measures restricting, among other 

 things, size, season and gear. Proposed restrictions are almost identical 

 to State regulations (for details see Chapter Three). In addition the 

 joint SAFMC and GMFMC Coral and Coral Reef Resources FMP now in preparation 

 proposes to prohibit potting within the core trapezoidal area of the 

 HAPC (see Chapter Three). 



There is considerable disagreement among biologists, commercial 

 fishermen and conservationists as to the behavior of the spiny lobster. 

 National Park Service (NPS) scientists (managers of nearly 100,000 acres 

 of coral reef adult lobster habitat) have found that (1) adult lobsters at 

 Ft. Jefferson National Monument are primarily resident species (lobsters tagged 

 and released did not move outside a 10 km area at Dry Tortugas in 104 

 weeks); (2) one single 8 months open season for recreational lobster fishing 

 can deplete a large resident population of juvenile and adult lobster by up 

 to 50%, even with an enforced harvest limit of 2 lobsters per person per 

 day; (3) 1 year of complete prohibition of both recreational & commercial 

 fishing can restore an area to approximately 78% of its pre-harvest 

 level and increase the lair occupancy rate to 71% after 16 months of 

 post harvest protection; and (4) there are inherent conflicts between 

 fishery interests of promoting harvests and NPS management objectives 

 that emphasize preservation of species diversity. 



Ill 



