Statutes, codes, and regulations
Code of Federal Regulations
Title 50 - Wildlife and FisheriesChapter VI - FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCEPart 697 - ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT
Subpart B - MANAGEMENT MEASURES
Section 697.18 - Lobster management areas

50 C.F.R. § 697.18

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Current through March 31, 2024
Section 697.18 - Lobster management areas

The following lobster management areas are established for purposes of implementing the management measures specified in this part. (A copy of a chart showing the American lobster EEZ management areas is available upon request to the Office of the Regional Administrator, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.)

(a)EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1. EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1 includes state and federal waters nearshore in the Gulf of Maine that are bounded on the west and north by the coastlines of Massachusetts (including the southwestern extent of the Cape Cod Canal), New Hampshire, and Maine, bounded on the east by the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary, and bounded on the southeast by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines:

Table 1 to Paragraph (a)

Point Latitude Longitude Notes
A43°58.25' N67°21.44' W(1)
B43°41' N68°00' N
C43°12' N69°00' W
D42°49' N69°40' W
E42°15.5' N69°40' W
F42°10' N69°56' W
G42°05.5' N70°14' W
H42°04.25' N70°17.22' W
I42°02.84' N70°16.1' W
J 42°03.4' N 70°14.2' W

(1) Point A is intended to fall on the U.S./Canada Maritime Boundary.

(b)EEZ Nearshore Management Area 2. EEZ Nearshore Management Area 2 includes state and federal waters nearshore in Southern New England that are bounded on the north by the coastlines of Massachusetts (including the northeastern extent of the Cape Cod Canal) and Rhode Island, and bounded on all other sides by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines:

Table 2 to Paragraph (b)

Point Latitude Longitude Notes
A41°40' N70°05' W
B41°15' N70°05' W
C41°21.5' N69°16' W
D41°10' N69°06.5' W
E40°55' N68°54' W
F40°27.5' N72°14' W
G40°45.5' N71°34' W
H41°07' N71°43' W
I41°06.5' N71°47' W
J41°11.5' N71°47.25' W
K 41°18.5' N 71°54.5' W(1)

(1) From Point K, the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 2 follows the maritime boundary between Connecticut and Rhode Island to the coastal Connecticut/Rhode Island boundary.

(c)Area 2/3 Overlap. The Area 2/3 Overlap is defined by the area, comprised entirely of Federal waters, bounded by straight lines connecting the following points, in the order stated:

Table 3 to Paragraph (c)

Point Latitude Longitude
A41°10' N69°06.5' W
B40°55' N68°54' W
C40°27.5' N72°14' W
D40°45.5' N71°34' W
A 41°10' N69°06.5' W

(d)EEZ Offshore Management Area 3. EEZ Offshore Management Area 3 is defined by the area, comprised entirely of Federal waters, bounded by straight lines connecting the following points, in the order stated:

Table 4 to Paragraph (d)

Point Latitude Longitude Notes
A43°58.25' N67°21' W(1),(2)
B43°41' N68°00' W
C43°12' N69°00' W
D42°49' N69°40' W
E42°15.5' N69°40' W
F42°10' N69°56' W
G42°21.5 N69°16' W
H41°10' N69°06.5' W
I40°45.5' N71°34' W
J40°27.5' N72°14' W
K40°12.5' N72°48.5' W
L39°50' N73°01' W
M38°39.5' N73°40' W
N38°12' N73°55' W
O37°12' N74°44' W
P35°34' N74°51' W
Q35°14.5' N75°31' W
R 35°14.5' N 71°24' W(2)

(1) Point A is intended to fall on the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary

(2) From Point R back to Point A along the outer limit of the US EEZ and the U.S.-Canada Maritime Boundary

(e)EEZ Nearshore Management Area 4. EEZ Nearshore Management Area 4 includes state and federal waters nearshore in the northern Mid-Atlantic, bounded on the west and north by the coastlines of New Jersey and New York (crossing the East River at 74° W), and bounded on all other sides by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines, unless otherwise noted:

Table 5 to Paragraph (e)

Point Latitude Longitude Notes
A41°0.7' N72°00' W
B40°57.33' N72°00' W(1),(2)
C41°06.5' N71°47' W(2),(3)
D41°07' N71°43' W
E40°45.5' N71°34' W
F41°27.5' N72°14' W
G40°12.5' N72°48.5' W
H39°50' N73°01' W
I 39°50' N 72°09.2' W
(

(1) Point B is intended to fall along the Three Nautical Mile line.

(2) From Point B to Point C following the Three Nautical Mile line.

(3) Point C is intended to fall along the Three Nautical Mile line.

(f)EEZ Nearshore Management Area 5. EEZ Nearshore Management Area 5 includes state and Federal waters nearshore in the southern Mid-Atlantic, bounded on the west by the coastline of the United states, and bounded on all other sides by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines:

Table 6 to Paragraph (f)

Point Latitude Longitude
A39°50' N74°09.2' W
B39°50' N72°55' W
C38°38.2' N73°33.8' W
D38°10.4' N73°49' W
E37°10.6' N74°38' W
F35°31.9' N74°45.5' W
G35°14.5' N75°19.3' W
H 35°14.5' N75°31.5' W

(g)Area 3/5 Overlap. The Area 3/5 Overlap includes state and Federal waters in the southern Mid-Atlantic bounded by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines:

Table 7 to Paragraph (g)

Point Latitude Longitude
A39°50' N73°01' W
B39°50' N72°55' W
C38°38.2' N73°33.8' W
D38°10.4' N73°49' W
E37°10.6' N74°38' W
F35°31.9' N74°45.5' W
G35°14.5' N75°19.3' W
H35°14.5' N75°31' W
I35°34' N74°51' W
J37°12' N74°44' W
K38°12' N73°55' W
L38°39.5' N73°40' W
A 39°50' N73°01' W

(h)Nearshore Management Area 6. The Nearshore Management Area 6 includes New York and Connecticut state waters, bounded by the Long Island Sound coastlines of both states (including the East River until 74° W, and the northern extent of the Harlem River), and bounded on the east by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines:

Table 8 to Paragraph (h)

Point Latitude Longitude Notes
A41°0.7' N72°00' W
B40°57.33' N72°00' W(1)(2)
C41°06.5' N71°47' W(2)(3)
D41°11.5' N71°47.25' W
E 41°18.5' N 71°54.5' W(4)

(1) Point B is intended to fall along the Three Nautical Mile line.

(2) From Point B to Point C following the Three Nautical Mile line.

(3) Point C is intended to fall along the Three Nautical Mile line.

(4) From Point E, the Nearshore Management Area 6 follows the maritime boundary between Connecticut and Rhode Island to the coastal Connecticut/Rhode Island boundary.

(i)EEZ Nearshore Outer Cape Lobster Management Area. EEZ Nearshore Outer Cape Lobster Management Area includes state and Federal waters off Cape Cod, bounded by the following points connected in the order listed by straight lines, unless otherwise noted:

Table 9 to Paragraph ( i )

Point Latitude Longitude Notes
A41°54.46' N70°03.99' W(1)
B41°52' N70°07.49' W
C42°02.84' N70°16.1' W
D42°04.25' N70°17.22' W
E42°05.5' N70°14' W
F42°10' N69°65' W
G41°21.5' N69°16' W
H41°15' N70°05' W
I 41°40' N 70°05' W(1)

(1) From Point I back to Point A following the outer coastline of Cape Cod.

(j)Area management. NMFS may, consistent with § 697.25 , implement management measures necessary for each management area, in order to end overfishing and rebuild stocks of American lobster.

50 C.F.R. §697.18

64 FR 68248, Dec. 6, 1999, as amended at 68 FR 14930, Mar. 27, 2003; 71 FR 13037, Mar. 14, 2006
64 FR 68248, 12/6/1999, as amended at 68 FR 14930, 3/27/2003; 71 FR 13037, 3/14/2006; 88 FR 67677, 11/1/2023