June 9, 2010

Overfishing threatens lobsters in Southern New England, US

Southern New England's lobster production may be severely threatened as a result of overfishing and warmer water, according to fisheries experts.

The grim outlook comes in a report by a technical committee of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which recommends a five-year moratorium on lobster fishing designed to give the population a fighting chance.

"Overwhelming environmental and biological changes coupled with continued fishing greatly reduce the likelihood of southern New England stock rebuilding," according to the committee report, which strongly suspects that warming waters due to climate change are also contributing to depleting stocks.

But news of the moratorium recommendation has hit those in the lobster industry, and they are not pleased.

Bill Adler, executive director of the Massachusetts Lobster Association, said that myriad factors besides overfishing were to blame for the decline in stocks. "Even if they shut down the fishing, there is no guarantee. The stock is depleted, but they are not overfishing. I am totally opposed to any moratorium," he said.

Lobsters were once so abundant that they were considered trash, and in the 18th century they were fed to prisoners and slaves. But as their market value has gone up, so has the pressure on their fisheries.

Lobster is Massachusetts' second biggest income producer at the dock, after sea scallops.