697.20—Size, harvesting and landing requirements.
(a) Minimum carapace length.
(1)
The minimum carapace length for all American lobsters harvested in or from the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1or the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 6 is 3 1/4 inches (8.26 cm).
(2)
The minimum carapace length for all American lobsters landed, harvested, or possessed by vessels issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in the Nearshore Management Area 1 or the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 6 is 3 1/4 inches (8.26 cm).
(3)
The minimum carapace length for all American lobsters harvested in or from the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 2, 4, 5 and the Outer Cape Lobster Management Area is 3 3/8 inches (8.57 cm).
(4)
The minimum carapace length for all American lobsters landed, harvested or possessed by vessels issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in EEZ Nearshore Management Area 2, 4, 5 and the Outer Cape Lobster Management Area is 3 3/8 inches (8.57 cm).
(5)
Through June 30, 2008, the minimum carapace length for all American lobsters harvested in or from the Offshore Management Area 3 is 3 15/32 inches (8.81 cm).
(6)
Through June 30, 2008, the minimum carapace length for all American lobsters landed, harvested or possessed by vessels issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in EEZ Offshore Management Area 3 is 3 15/32 inches (8.81 cm).
(7)
Effective July 1, 2008, the minimum carapace length for all American lobsters harvested in or from the Offshore Management Area 3 is 3 1/2 inches (8.89 cm).
(8)
Effective July 1, 2008, the minimum carapace length for all American lobsters landed, harvested or possessed by vessels issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in EEZ Offshore Management Area 3 is 3 1/2 inches (8.89 cm).
(9)
No person may ship, transport, offer for sale, sell, or purchase, in interstate or foreign commerce, any whole live American lobster that is smaller than the minimum size specified in paragraph (a) of this section.
(b) Maximum carapace length.
(1)
The maximum carapace length for all American lobster harvested in or from the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1 is 5 inches (12.7 cm).
(2)
The maximum carapace length for all American lobster landed, harvested, or possessed by vessels issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1 is 5 inches (12.7 cm).
(3)
The maximum carapace length for all American lobster harvested in or from the EEZ Nearshore Management Areas 2, 4, 5, and 6 is 5 1/4 inches (13.34 cm).
(4)
The maximum carapace length for all American lobster landed, harvested, or possessed by vessels issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in one or more of EEZ Nearshore Management Areas 2, 4, 5, and 6 is 5 1/4 inches (13.34 cm).
(5)
The maximum carapace length for all American lobster harvested in or from EEZ Offshore Management Area 3 is 6 7/8 inches (17.46 cm).
(6)
The maximum carapace length for all American lobster landed, harvested, or possessed by vessels issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in EEZ Offshore Management Area 3 is 6 7/8 inches (17.46 cm).
(7)
Effective July 1, 2010, the maximum carapace length for all American lobster harvested in or from EEZ Offshore Management Area 3 or the Outer Cape Lobster Management Area is 6 3/4 inches (17.15 cm).
(8)
Effective July 1, 2010, the maximum carapace length for all American lobster landed, harvested, or possessed by vessels issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in EEZ Offshore Management Area 3 or the Outer Cape Lobster Management Area is 6 3/4 inches (17.15 cm).
(c) Mutilation.
(1)
Subject to the rebuttable presumption in § 697.7(c)(3), no person may remove meat or any body appendage from any American lobster harvested in or from the EEZ before, or at the time of landing, or have in possession any American lobster part other than whole lobsters, up to the time when a dealer first receives or possesses American lobster.
(2)
Subject to the rebuttable presumption in § 697.7(c)(3), no owner, operator or person aboard a vessel issued a Federal American lobster permit may remove meat or any body appendage from any American lobster before or at the time of landing, or have in possession any American lobster part other than whole lobsters, up to the time when a dealer first receives or possesses American lobster.
(d) Berried females.
(1)
Any berried female harvested in or from the EEZ must be returned to the sea immediately. If any berried female is harvested in or from the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1, or in or from the EEZ Offshore Management Area 3 above 42°30′, it must be v-notched before being returned to the sea immediately.
(2)
Any berried female harvested or possessed by a vessel issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit must be returned to the sea immediately. If any berried female is harvested in or from the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1, or in or from the EEZ Offshore Management Area 3 above 42°30′, it must be v-notched before being returned to the sea immediately.
(3)
No vessel, or owner, operator or person aboard a vessel issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit may possess any berried female.
(4)
No person may possess, ship, transport, offer for sale, sell, or purchase, in interstate or foreign commerce, any berried female as specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
(e) Removal of eggs.
(1)
No person may remove, including, but not limited to, the forcible removal and removal by chemicals or other substances or liquids, extruded eggs attached to the abdominal appendages from any female American lobster.
(2)
No owner, operator or person aboard a vessel issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit may remove, including but not limited to, the forcible removal, and removal by chemicals or other substances or liquids, extruded eggs attached to the abdominal appendages from any female American lobster.
(3)
No person may possess, ship, transport, offer for sale, sell, or purchase, in interstate or foreign commerce, any whole live American lobster that bears evidence of the removal of extruded eggs from its abdominal appendages as specified in paragraph (e) of this section.
(4)
No person on a vessel issued a Federal lobster license may harvest or possess any American lobster which has been speared.
(5)
No person may possess, ship, transport, offer for sale, sell, or purchase, in interstate or foreign commerce, any American lobster which has been speared.
(g) V-notched females.
(1)
No person may possess any female lobster possessing a zero tolerance v-shaped notch harvested in or from the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1.
(2)
No vessel, owner, or operator issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1 may land, harvest, or possess any female lobster possessing a zero tolerance v-shaped notch.
(3)
No person may possess any female lobster possessing a standard v-shaped notch harvested in or from the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 2, 4, 5, 6, or the EEZ Offshore Management Area 3.
(4)
No vessel, owner or operator issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 2, 4, 5, 6 or the EEZ Offshore Management Area 3 may land, harvest or possess any female lobster possessing a standard v-shaped notch.
(5)
Through June 30, 2010, no person may possess any female lobster possessing a 1/4-inch (0.64-cm) v-shaped notch harvested in or from the EEZ Outer Cape Lobster Management Area.
(6)
Through June 30, 2010, no vessel, owner or operator issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in the EEZ Outer Cape Lobster Management Area may land, harvest or possess any female lobster possessing a 1/4-inch (0.64-cm) v-shaped notch.
(7)
Effective July 1, 2010, no person may possess any female lobster possessing a standard v-shaped notch harvested in or from the EEZ Outer Cape Lobster Management Area.
(8)
Effective July 1, 2010, no vessel, owner or operator issued a Federal limited access American lobster permit fishing in or electing to fish in the EEZ Outer Cape Lobster Management Area may land, harvest or possess any female lobster possessing a standard v-shaped notch.
[71 FR 13038, Mar. 14, 2006, as amended at 72 FR 56942, Oct. 5, 2007; 74 FR 37551, July 29, 2009]