entire inshore fishery. However, NMFS officials conserva- 
tively estimate the MSY at 25 to 30 million pounds per year. 
Although the lobster fishing effort has increased substantially, 
landings in the inshore area have declined. For example, 
landings in Maine, the leading producer State, dropped from 
a range of 21 to 24 million pounds in the early 1960s to 17 
million pounds in 1975. Although a precise MSY cannot be 
established for the offshore lobster stocks because of in- 
adequate catch statistics, an approximate amount of 7.5 
million pounds per year has been estimated. NMFS officials 
believe that catches of offshore lobsters have been within 
the fishery's sustainable limits. 
Based on available information, NMFS and State biolo- 
gists are convinced that American lobster stocks can be 
better protected and supplies substantially increased through 
implementation of a comprehensive management program. Key 
elements in the program recommended by State and Federal 
officials in 1972 as part Of ‘the Joint State and Federal 
management effort, included: 
--Establishing a uniform minimum legal carapace 
length of 3-1/2 inches, which was considered 
to be the minimum needed to achieve optimum 
economic and biological objectives. 
--Developing a program to effectively control 
entire fishing effort. 
The plan also provided for establishing (1) reciprocal 
enforcement among States, (2) licensing and reporting re- 
quirements for fishermen, and (3) escape vents in traps for 
undersized lobsters. The plan recommended prohibiting (1) 
landing of lobster meat, (2) notching 1/of female lobsters, 
(3) possession of egg-bearing lobsters, (4) a maximum-size 
limit, and (5) possession of detached lobster parts. 
The trend in Florida landings of spiny lobsters from 
1953 through 1973 was generally upward. The recent increases 
were largely due to the additional foreign-water lobsters 
landed from the Bahamaian fishery; however, a gradual in- 
crease in landings from U.S. waters was also occurring. 
During this same period there was a decrease in productivity 
that is, less catch per unit of effort, indicating that ad- 
ditional stocks are not available to provide the opportunity 
for growth. An MSY has not been established. There are no 
known commercial size stocks not being exploited. 
1/Making a V-shaped cut in the tail flippers for identi- 
fication purposes. It was found that such cuts make the 
lobster vulnerable to certain diseases. 
LR2 
