View Rule

The National Marine Fisheries Service proposes Federal Jonah crab regulations to help achieve the goal of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Interstate Fishery Management Plan to promote Jonah crab conservation, reduce the possibility of recruitment failure, and allow the industry to continue fishing the resource at present levels. The Jonah Crab Plan was developed out of concern for potential impacts to the status of the Jonah crab resource, given the recent and rapid increase in landings. Commercial and recreational measures and reporting requirements were recommended for Federal implementation in the Jonah Crab Plan. Measures include: permitting, minimum size, prohibition on retaining egg-bearing females, and incidental bycatch limit, and reporting requirements that are consistent with American lobster fishery requirements. Most States have implemented measures consistent with the Plan. The proposed measures would complement those implemented by the States.