Massachusetts lobster fishery statistics

University of

Massachusetts

Amherst

I B R

R

^^5, eAv.. ^: N<^l^/'>hq,

V

. • • V . ■ . -^ . ^ ■■■ i ■ ^ : ■

.; M jr i 7, >i ■"■ f: 'i'-i

ASSACHUSETTS

DIVISION OF MARINE FISHERIES,'

■•"iB »»*

Publication No. 16,992-24-150-11-91 r'i^%«%'* ^f'^q ''^ '-'r|--'§ ■ s ,>
Approved by State Purchasing Agent . . *r ^ -

1990

MASSACHUSETTS

LOBSTER FISHERY

STATISTICS

by

Thomas B. Hoopes

Assistant Marine Fisheries Biologist

Statistics and Data Processing Project

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

Cat Cove Marine Laboratory

92 Fort Avenue

Salem, Massachusetts 01970

(508) 745-3113

Technical Series 25

A contribution of

Commercial Fisheries Research and Development

(P.L. 99-659) Project NA90AA-D-IJ453

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs

Susan F. Tierney, Secretary
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement

John C. Phillips, Commissioner
Division of Marine Fisheries

Philip G. Coates, Director

INTRODUCTION

The commercial lobster fishery of Massachusetts is, economically, the most
important fishery conducted within the territorial waters of the Commonwealth.
The overall economic importance of the fishery both in New England and, in recent
years, the Mid-Atlantic states, has focused the attention of Federal, Regional and
State fishery managers on this species. Initially, in an attempt to standardize
management of the fishery, the Federal and State Governments developed an overall
lobster fishery management plan under the auspices of the State-Federal Partnership
Program. However, with the passage of the Fisheries Management and Conservation
Act, the New England Fisheries Management Council, in cooperation with the
Mid-Atlantic Council, has developed and implemented a management plan for the
entire east coast lobster fishery. The basis and success of any such plan is an
accurate statistical data base. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with joint
funding from the National Marine Fisheries Service, has been collecting annual
reports from licensed lobster fishermen for many years. Historically, the data
collected was used primarily for descriptive and informational purposes, and
occasionally for management. However, with the recent emphasis on Federal
management, these data take on added importance in terms of providing the
respective management agencies with adequate information to insure that the
interests of Massachusetts' lobstermen are protected.

During the period 1975 - 1980, the number of coastal commercial lobster permits
was limited, by law, to 1300, with an additional ten percent issued to proven
hardship cases. In 1981, a statutory change provided for the establishment of a
permanent waiting list from which 100 new permits were issued. In addition, 30
special additional permits were awarded to full time commercial fishermen who met
certain criteria. In subsequent years 80 list permits and 20 special additional permits
have been issued until 1988, when the issuance of new coastal permits was
suspended. Permits which are not renewed are retired.

This report is the twenty - fourth annual publication of data summarized from
catch reports submitted by licensed lobster fishermen. Data were presented in a
standardized format through 1979. In 1980, presentation was changed to reflect a
more thorough collection and evaluation of the submitted information. This
publication represents the fifth year in which data processing and evaluation were
completely computerized. It is the first year in which data is presented to conform
to the National Marine Fisheries Service statistical reporting areas. This report does
not, however, cover the scope of the Project's existing database and computational
capability. Requests for expanded information, or questions concerning this
publication, should be made to the Division's Statistics Project in Salem MA* (508)
745-3113. , .K J

This report has been prepared by personnel from the Division of Marine Fisheries
Statistics and Data Processing Project, funded jointly by the Commonwealth and the
National Marine Fisheries Service under the Commercial Fisheries Research and
Development Act (Public Law 88-309). The preparation of this report would not
have been possible without the cooperation of licensed lobstermen who provided the
information on their annual reports. Special thanks go to Ann Spires who continues,
year after year, to interpret and keypunch, with special care and accuracy, the type'
of reports that fishermen are likely to fill out, and to Gerald Nash for his help in
Oracle development and report generation. Thanks also goes to Charlie Anderson,
who heads up the project, for his continual help with system development, upgrades
and suggestions concerning this publication. These three people have as integral a

1

part in this process as I do, and without them this publication would not be possible.

SOURCE OF DATA

No person may fish for or take lobster in coastal waters or land lobster in the
Commonwealth without a permit issued by the Director of the Division of Marine
Fisheries (Chapter 130, Mass. G.L., Section 38). Chapter 130, Mass. G.L., Section 33,
requires any person so licensed to file an annual report of their catch by January 31
for the preceding calendar year. In 1980, a dual reporting system was established.
Commercial lobstermen (coastal, offshore and seasonal(student)) received a detailed
catch report form with their license renewal application. This report requests the
following information: method of fishing; number and type of gear used; effort
data (set-over days, number of trips per month, etc.); pounds of lobster caught; areas
fished; principal ports of landing; and information relative to the vessels and traps
used in the fishery. Recreational fishermen are asked to report on their license
renewal application form the number of lobsters taken during the previous year and
the maximum number of traps fished.

Project personnel sort, edit, tabulate and interpret data from all reports received.
Data presented in this publication are based on catch reports actually received as of
July 23, 1991, and are not expanded to represent all of the permits issued in 1990.

EXPLANATION OF TABLES

All data presented in this publication are broken down into two basic categories:
the first is "territorial" which represents data pertaining to all lobster activity taking
place within the territorial waters (3 mile line) of the Commonwealth (Areas 1-14 on
Figure lA); the "non-territorial" category refers to all data outside those coordinates
(Areas 15-25 on Figure IB). This is a departure from years past when data were
separated into inshore / offshore components. In 1990, the statistical eporting map
was revised to reflect the territorial / non-territorial breakdown beca e it reflects a
better estimate of territorial landings, it takes care of the confusing issue of an
"offshore" permit holder fishing in "inshore" waters as in years past, and it conforms
to the National Marine Fisheries Service's statistical reporting areas. Figures lA and
IB show the new areas as defined for 1990.

Figure lA.

1990 Massachusetts Lobster Fishery; Statistical Reporting Map
Showing Territorial Waters and Outlying Areas

(See page 4 for descriptions of territorial areas)

Description of Boundaries for Territo

rial

Areas in Figure lA

Between

Between

Areas

Boundaries

Areas

Boundaries

1 & 2

Castle Neck, Ipswich

11 Sc

12

70 Degree Longitude Line

2 & 3

Goldsmith Point, Manchester

12 Sc

13

41 Degree 20 Minute Latitude Line

3 & 4

Red Rock, Lynn

13 &

14

Elizabeth Islands and

4 & 5

Tobias Ledge (Spindle), Scituate

Sow & Pigs Reef to

5 & 6

High Pines Ledge, Plymouth

41 Degree 20 Minute Latitude Line

6 & 7

Scussett Beach. Sandwich

14 &:

15

70 Degree 10 Minute Longitude Line

(5,6.7) & 8

8 & 9

9 & 10

9 & 11

10 & 12
10 & 13

120 Foot Line

70 Degree Longitude Line

70 Degree Longitude Line

41 Degree 20 Minute Latitude Line

Wasque Point, M.V. to Muskeget Island

Waquoit Bay, Falmouth to Cape Poge,

Nantucket
M.V.

Areas 1 - 14 = Territorial Waters
Parts of Area 10 are Federal
waters, but are managed by DMF.

Figure IB. 1990 Massachusetts Lobster Fishery; Statistical Reporting Map

Showing Offshore Areas (which correspond to NMFS Statistical Areas)

•^ -ME .■■;v><2'

1^

^

^

r

NA

V

j§ r /'

/

r
/

>

X

J ~ y ' o

•'■.'.., ^|::^^i\

k

/

V_/^

r^\ /§

. • **^U%^J^^P r

3 \

/

'^---^ y

r f >.-

\

^

^^— ^ i

' ■ •. •"•W^^ /

X

•^vN^^aA

/\

/y'^^^><\

/

\ /

/""^ y\, '\ \v

o^

/

vv

-^4/ ] X

><>

^

ai

/Sc

/ 25 1 I \

• : '-• ^(^ \ 20

^

y

^ /\

r-^ ^ X.

..■•■••'y!-v-:.^ \ ex /

/^

/

/ ^

\ ' y^

\.

' •. • •..-.v:-.-..-?! \ ^ /N

/\

22

>v >''^'^^'^\/^ >N. J^

\^

• :v.--:^ VY

/ ^

\ <

/^ j/\

\v \

■.'■.■••v;''-i yy ^\^

\ )

> / / >^

\ o''

\^NH-;J^g^icr

18

> / / y\

\4

^ ■.*-VK'-^M \ -^

'^^

^^r'^

^^Jv

/2a''' y\

\/4o

#^

x\

/ cJ /

M

^

/v^ ^

\ / ' yY

/ ^

■ • . .".• ■.V'-'^^t^;^

Hi

F?^^^'^

.

/v y y^

X

\* '■^-'■Y'.^^^

Y^

r

\ ^"^

J^A y

y

16

-^

^^^y

\

\

. /

y

\y X

\i

/\

\x

' K^S rS^

Jt\^ y

, \^

^r \^

* ' *^» Af^^yy

yy >^'

\

y^ \

/

'■'NY'^3J^\

y

/ ^

. \

/^ \

„^

■^^t^dr V

/

y j

\ /

v*°

4\

• 11- •".♦•' ?!^^^^ ><'\

\ ~,'

y^

Jf

Below is a brief definition of each lobster license type, both commercial and non-
commercial, describing their entitlements.

Coastai Commercial: Allows the holder to harvest lobster
anywhere, most importantly inside territorial waters.

Offshore Commercial: Allows the holder to harvest lobster outside
territorial waters only.

Seasonal Commercial: Allows the holder, if he or she is a student
to harvest lobster anywhere, but with a maximum of 25 traps and
only during the months June - September.

Non-commercial: Allows the holder to harvest lobster anywhere
but with a maximum of only 10 traps (if fishing traps) and cannot
sell catch.

In all cases, the legal minimum size of a harvestable lobster was 3 i/4 inches in
1990. As promulgated by the New England Fishery Management Council in
cooperation with lobster producing states in New England and the Mid-Atlantic,
1990 was the "off-year" of a 5-year program to increase the minimum legal size from
3 3/16 to 3 5/16 inches by January of 1992 through four 1/32 inch increases.

Tables presenting number of fishermen, number of pots fished, number and value
of boats used in the fishery and total landings statewide, by county and license type,
and for each city and town were prepared using the catch reports submitted by
commercial fishermen. In keeping with Division policy, some of the data are masked
or combined to protect the confidentiality of the individual submitting the report.
Data referring to the number of fishermen, number and value of gear, and number
and value of boats are presented by the home port of the licensee filing the report.
Pounds of lobster harvested are presented by the port of landing reported by the
fishermen.

Vessel and SCUBA gear values were calculated on the basis of the fishermen's
estimate of its present value and the percentage of its use specifically for lobstering.
Average values were used when the information was omitted from an individual
report. When fishermen reported the number of lobsters taken, rather than
poundage, a conversion factor of 1.27 pounds per lobster was used to calculate
poundage figures. This figure is based on information collected by the Division's
Commercial Lobster Investigations Project. For information on biological (average
carapace length, sex ratios, percent of egg-bearing lobster in catch etc.) and other
parameters (mortality, exploitation and catch per unit of effort rates) contact this
Project in Sandwich, MA at (508) 888-1155.

Where tables refer to county, the reader is referred to Figure 10.

ISSUED LICENSES AND REPORTING STATUS

Table 1 lists the number of licenses, both commercial and recreational, issued in
1990, the total value in terms of fees and the number that reported catching lobster.
There were 2,638 commercial lobster licenses issued during 1990: 1,782 coastal, 774
offshore and 82 seasonal. Non-commercial licenses issued totaled 12,343, a
breakdown of their reporting status and landings can be found in Table 6.

As of July 23, 1990, a total of 161 licensed commercial lobstermen (6 percent)
failed to file a catch report with the Division. Of the 2,371 commercial fishermen
who reported, 633 or 25 percent claimed they did not catch any lobster during 1990.
If one looks at the coastal license category in Table 2, they will see a 4 percent drop
in the number of fishermen catching lobst:^r from 1989 or a 10 percent drop over the
last five years. It is interesting to note the slow decline of coastal licenses issued
over the last three years as a result of the moratorium placed on the issuance of new
license set in 1988.

The number of offshore licensees catching lobster over the last five years has
increased considerably, up 42 percent with very little change in the number of
licenses issued. This is most probably due to the change in wording on the catch
report in 1988 which asked if they actually caught lobster rather than if they fished,
or directed their efforts, for lobster. Student commercial licenses continue to decline
in number with a 61 percent drop in number issued between 1986 and 1990.

Table 1. 1990 Massachusetts Lobster Fishery; Reporting Status of Licenses Issued

Licenses Licensing Reported Reported Not

License Type (Fee) Issued Revenue "Catching Lob er" "No Lobster Catch" Reporting

Coastal Commercial ($ 260) 1,727 $449,020 1,281 74% 420 24% 26 2%

Offshore Commercial ($ 260) 738 $191,880 417 57% 207 28% 114 15%

Seasonal (Student) Commercial ($ 65) 67 $4,355 40 60% 6 9% 21 31%

Non-Commercial ($ 40) 12,343 $493,720 7,562 61% 1,528 12% 3,253 26%

Total 14,875 $1,138,975 9,300 63% 2,161 15% 3,414 23%

Table 2. Massachusetts Commercial Lobster Fishery;

Selected Licensing

Information,

1986 - 1990

Percent Five

1986 1987

1988 1989

1990

Year Change

Coastal Licenses

Issued 1,803 1,877

% Change 4.10

1,832 1,782

-2.40 -2.73

1,727

-3.09

-4.22

"Caught Lobster" 1,418 1,434

% Change 1.13

1,436 1,333

0.14 -7.17

1,281

-3.90

-9.66

"Did Not Catch Lobster" 359 409

% Change 13.93

362 422

-11.49 16.57

420

-0.47

16.99

Not Reporting 26 34

% Change 30. 77

34 27

0 -20.59

26

-3.70

0.00

Percent Not Reporting 1 2

2 2

2

Offshore Licenses

Issued 711 764

% Change 7.45

795 774

4.06 -2.64

738

-4.65

3.80

"Caught Lobster" 294 291

% Change -1.02

323 339

11.00 4.95

All

23.01

41.84

"Did Not Catch Lobster" 270 319

% Change 18.15

347 338

8.78 -2.59

207

-38. 76

-23.33

Not Reporting 147 161

% Change 9.52

125 97
-22.36 -22.40

114

17.53

-22.45

Percent Not Reporting 21 21

16 13

15

Seasonal (Student) Licenses

Issued 171 131

% Change -23.39

99 82

-24.43 -17.17

67

-18.29

-60.82

"Caught Lobster" 88 60

« Change -31.82

53 49

-11.67 -7.55

40

-18.37

-54.55

"Did Not Catch Lobster" 13 9

% Change -30. 77

15 13

66.67 -13.33

6

-53.85

-53.85

Not Reporting 70 63

% Change -10.00

31 20
-50.79 -35.48

21
5.00

-70.00

Percent Not Reporting 41 48

31 24

31

LANDINGS AND VALUE

An unprecedented 16,567,377 pounds of lobster were reported landed by
commercial lobstermen in Massachusetts, a 13.5 percent increase over 1989. Based on
a price of $2.46 per pound, however, the commercial catch was valued at $40,755,747,
a 1 percent decrease. Figure 2 shows the weighted ex-vessel price for 1990 as derived
from audited lobstermen's records, a significant drop from $3.14 and $2.82 paid in
1988 and 1989 respectively. (Weighted price means that each price is weighted by
the number of pounds that were paid at that price instead of taking a flat average of
all prices). Regional differences in price are typical, where lower prices are usually
paid in Boston. Figure 3 shows weighted ex-vessel price over time for the past four
years. A best-fit regression line indicates a downward trend over this time period,
although it is not statistically significant.

The coastal license holders reported landing 13,876,370 pounds, or 84 percent of
the commercial catch. Of the 16,567,377 pounds of lobster landed commercially,
12,260,805 were reported taken within the territorial waters of the Commonwealth.
Again, all categories of landings are up over 1989 levels. In fact, the average pounds
landed per fishermen (coastal and offshore licenses only) increased 12 percent in
1990. In total pounds of lobster landed, Essex County ranked first, Plymouth County
second and Suffolk County third. See Table 3 for a breakdown of pounds landed
and number of fishermen by license type and county and Table 4 for a five-year
comparison of selected landings and effort statistics. Trap and non-trap landings
and the number of traps fished are not available for years prior to 1990, as shown in
Table 4, since the statistical reporting map was changed in 1990. These figures are
available for the old "inshore / offshore" designations only (see 1989 and prior year's
reports).

Gloucester ranked as the number one port in total pounds landed followed by
Boston, Sandwich and Plymouth respectively. In total numbers of active commercial
fishermen, Essex County ranked first with 642, Plymouth County second with 358
and Bristol County third with 280. Gloucester ranked first in active fishermen
followed by New Bedford, Boston and Plymouth, respectively. See Tables 3 and 5,
(the shaded areas in Table 5 refer to the top 10 cities in at least one of the two
categories: pounds landed or number of fishermen).

Figure 2. 1990 Massachusetts Commercial Lobster Fishery; Weighted
Ex-Vessel Price Derived from Audited Lobstermen's Records

$ 6

$ 5 -

feJ3

Weighted Regional Prices:

North Shore: S2.50
Boston: $2.37
South Shore: $2.45

Lobstermen's three day strike

Weighted State Price: $2.46

Jan I Mar I May | July I Sep I Nov I

Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec

Month
Total number of observations = 7,205.
Gaps in line represent missing prices for those dates.

8

>^ o

1>

CO

^
=^=

CO

C\2

QJ

Q

=^

90TJJ p9':m§Taj\4^

1M

2

1

s

cm"

s

IX"

»* OS OQ

«n ^ CM
'«■" oC

CM

ss

o »

r~ >A fo

S3 ?;

i4 «i

00 'O

SoS
o

00 m

2 S3

2 p:

£ ?

O^ 00 M

.— I w-i en

— " oo'

00 t^

fi o\

>

a

p3

to

X
a

a

3

z

1/5

t/5

X)

.2
'o

u

a
a

o
U

i2

0)
!/5

3
JC
O
cd
t/5
(/3

O
On
On

3

^ g^ g

y? c<i jp

8 ? Tf

§g.

.488.
1.661.

2 ES

oo' 00°

\0 >£)

PI ;; S

.1 fO_ N

^Q' 00

8 ?i

C4

? S

2 "*

^ ?3 -S
K1 »-

M Cl e<%

fi &> »"
— O

00 CM 00

\p S >3

■^ 1/1 «

V O

(N

r~

«

VO

•V

t~

00

a

<

J

o

u

H
I
Z

o
z

! 2 E

o

K

00

O

m CO

5

.-»

00

S

1/1

Ul

CN

ro

iq

<n >o

r--

s

pn

«

o>

lo

CM

w^

C«4

O

■*

o>

CM

^^

(N

3

Q

CO

r^

m

>o

■<>•

O

^

<N

CS

CS

>/1

en r^

«0

lo

o>

>0 CM

m

00

c^

— • 1^

«

o

•-^

•<r

S;

O

o

o

■n

*n

Wl

o

r~

r~-

rj

.~i

»r»

■*

s

3

lO

CM

00
CM

t»i

oo

S

<n

§

S 2

—_ CM

'O" Wl

r*

^H

tr,

VO

uo

fr.

•-H

S

to

CM

s

00

O

1^

00

>o

(N

CM

>o

CM

CO

m

fN

3

fO

1/1

c^

^O

fO

00

CM

>o

t~

^H

t~

^H

m

0^

tr,

o>

S 1 s

c<S vS p-

^'1

00 C- ui
vo CM t«1

oo_ to

8c<S

— CM

a

t-

VO

f^

o

00

>Ai

VO

o

■o

■0-

! 1^

2 r=
I H O

<

H

CO c

p I

r- VO
cm" >o

00 (s r-

tM vo

r-" wi

0\ 00

3

O
U1

10

«1

o' >o

■* U1 00

2 3 S

CM fO
■«• fO

lO 00

i R

oo" >o

00 —

00 Tt

o" t-"

to 0>

vo O

' o

0\ 00 t/1

00 rv|_

lO q"

CM r~

r* oo —

2' S

en (N vo

Ov en

lO P~_

oo" oo"

vo vo

O cm"

vo

3;

«

1^ 8 S

cm"

5

CM fO
S >/i
So_ f\

00 *^
CM

a

IT) p\

s

vo
CM

r-

00^

lA oo"

— > to

P 00

S Si; 3

wi O

40* pT

S5o

t- P; \0

"^ <2 C

CO 1^ Ov^

i 2

«m" t-"

c^

00

s

« in Ov

S 8 in

"* S 3

CM ^

2 S

cs vo vo

g

<

Z
O
no

-.J- oo CM
O -IT

o

>n — 00

« O CM

— vo

vo vo
<n r~

to 00

tn tn r~
-« tn -o-

— CM

? 8 ^
vo c-

O
t

a:

u

H

— o
^ °

o
cu

TT 00

en 00
■T vn

o — r~

CM 00 vo
^ 00 W1

r~ in

>0 CO
Wl CM

CN vo —

— — vo
r~ CM

tn Tf
00 t—
in CM

S

vo

cm"

p- cm

O 00 —

r- Ov 00

o r~

Ov" — "

Ov 00

tn Ov

— cm tn

cN t^ m

vo r~

00 tn
■n ■»
o 4

CM f-
tn —

CO 00

tn tn CM

■<r ov_

in" r»"

n en

eo

<?v

5

m

Oi

vn

00

•vr

un

?

^

CO
O

i

CM
CN

2

CM

CM

in

Ov

§

00

m
vo

00

?

00

vo

00

r-_ o\_
r-" oo"

« Oi
•«■ wl

to r-

<7v Ob

tn fv) CM

^ CM ?

oo" Ov"

CM 00

O Ov

eo tn
S O

Ov CM
CM

Q CM 00

^ Ov 'O

t> o<_

tn 5

f4 in

s

m in .
•- 00 m

irT
vo

-^S

00 to

tn oo_^

oo" o\

CM lO

vo vo

O 00

-<}•" tn"

en 00

Z iS

S I s

2 :§ i I

S3 tl- Oh >

to

a

o ^

111

is O «

Eh Oh >

10

Table 4. Massachusetts Commercial Lobster Fishery;

Selected Landings (Lbs.) and Effort Statistics,

1986 - 90

Percent
Five Year

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

Change

Total Landings
Percent Change

14,690,452

13,384,566
-8.89

14,262,798
6.56

14,610,078

2.43

16,567,377
13.40

12.78

Total Traps Fished
Percent Change

427,819

459,360
7.37

460,031
0.15

453,447
-1.43

458,280
1.07

7.12

Total Value
Percent Change

$36,873,035

$40,515,081
9.88

$44,785,186

10.54

$41,200,420
-8.00

$40,755,747
-1.08

10.53

TERRTrORIAL (Inside 3 Miles)

Landings (see note below)
Percent Change

10,634,231

9,371,224
-11.88

9,700,058
3.51

10,391,098

7.12

12,260,805
17.99

15.30

Value
Percent Change

$26,691,920

$28,366,695
6.27

$30,458,182
7.37

$29,302,896

-3.79

$30,161,580

2.93

13.00

Trap Landings

*

*

*

*

12,223,266

Traps Fished

*

*

*

*

385,201

Non-Trap Landings
(Gillnet, Diver)

*

*

*

*

37,539

NON-TERRITORIAI, (Outside 3 Miles) |

Landings (see note below)
Percent Change

4,056,221

4,013,342
-1.06

4,562,740
13.69

4,218,980

-7.53

4.306,572
2.08

6.17

Value
Percent Change

$10,181,115

$12,148,386

19.32

$14,327,004
17.93

$11,897,524
-16.96

$10,594,167
-10.95

4.06

Trap Landings

*

*

*

*

3,616,544

Traps Fished

*

*

*

*

73,079

Non-Trap Landings
(GOlnet, Trawler)

*

*

*

*

690,028

Average Price ($) / Pound
Percent Change

2.51

3.03
20.60

3.14

3.73

2.82
-10.19

2.46

-12.77

Ave. Lbs. / Trap-Haul
Percent Change

0.6907

0.6304
-8.73

0.6478
2.76

0.6601
1.90

0.7336
11.13

Ave. Lbs. / Trap
Percent Change

33.10

28.15

-14.95

29.88
6.15

31.00

3.75

34.56

11.50

♦ Figures not available for these

years, only inshore/offshore breakdown available. See explanation in text.

Territorial and non-territorial landings for 1986-1989 were calculated based on the lobsten
caught from territorial waters.

nan's estimate of the percent of his total

landings

11

Table 5. 1990 Massachusetts Commercial Lobster Fishery; Number of Fishermen

and Landings by Homeport. Does Not Include Seasonal Licenses and Their Landings.

TOWN

FISHERMEN
NUMBER RANK

POUNDS POUNDS NON-
TERRITORIAL TERRITORIAL

TOTAL
POUNDS PERCENT

RANK

B ARN ST ABLE- Y ARMOUTH
BEVERLY

14
43

25
9

26,529

361.448

387,977
748,197

2.34
4.52

18
6

660,115

88,078

BOSTON

BOURNE

m

3

1,535.001

52,308

191,636

1,726.637

52.308

10.43
0.32

2

36

9

29

CHATHAM

26

17

89.197

88.599

177,796

1.07

24

CHILMARK

16

23

69.218
664.827

63.164
783

132.382
665.610

0.80
4.02

27
8

POH A9<;PT

A"?

0

v.^v-/n>\ooc. 1

't^

y

DANVERS

15

24

78.275

16,172

94,447

0.57

30

DARTMOUTH

21

21

36.172

15,722

51,894

0.31

37

DENNIS

20

22

76.121

76,121

0.46

31

DUXBURY

5

33

44.257

44,257

0.27

40

ESSEX
FAIRHAVEN

11
39

27

19,276

19,276

0.12
3.87

45
9

10

^ 117,I34|||

li-E 523,487" '

640,621

FALMOUTH-GOSNOLD

13

26

32,220

C^C t\^^'

32.220

0.19

WM

44

GLOUCESTER

220

1

1,152,846

575,926

1,728,772

1

HARWICH

3

34

31.787

81,728

113,515

0.69

29

HINGHAM

32

16

539.494

13,252

552,746

3.34

12

HULL

34

14

341.741

15,646

357,387

2.16

19

IPSWICH-ROWLEY

22

20

51.856

5

51.861

0.31

38

KINGSTON

7

31

32.516

32,516

0.20

43

LYNN

8

30

247,368

3,007

250,375

1.51

22

MANCHESTER

32

16

256.028

72.607

328.635

1.98

21

MARBLEHEAD

56

7

554,233

43,393

597.626

3.61

11

MARSHFIELD

83

5

609,048

157,571

766,618

4.63

5

MATTAPOISETT

13

26

45.967

13.983

59,950

0.36

33

N AH ANT

;.;...;...........:...:....-..3^......

...■.:.:.:.:.-:.-.x.-.::-.:;:.-:.M:::.-

...-.....- .:.:.:.....:..:..,.606,251........

..-..:...::.:.;:: 20,280 ;,,,;..

,^.,626,5^1. ,..,..,

.,.:...;..J;78.,

10

NANTUCKET

5"

33"

15,423

49.076

64,499

0.39

32

NEW BEDFORD

178

2

128,366

353,388

481,755

2.91

15

NEWBURYPORT-NEWBURY

26

17

31.332

24.448

55,781

0.34

35

ORLEANS-EASTHAM

24

19

156,208

2,880

159,088

0.96

26

PLYMOUTH

106

4

833,153

30,196

32,128

863,348
168,410

5.21
1.02

4

25

PROVINCETOWN

37

12

136.282

QUINCY-BRAINTREE

11

27

55,556

3,120

58,676

0.35

34

REVERE-CHELSE MEDFORD

10

28

328.879

7,556
22,669

336,436
450,985

2.03
2.72

20
17

ROCKPORT

60

6

428,316

SALEM

14

25

26.058

10,166

36,223

0.22

41

SALISBURY
SANDWICH

6

34

32
14

17,647
279,095

1,211
602,396

18.858
881,491

0.11
5.32

46
3

SAUGUS
SCITUATE

45
56

8
7

522,325
422,474

7,962
123,407

530,286
545,881

477,287

3.20
3.30
2.88

14
13

16

SWAMPSCOTT

33

15

436.880

40,407

TISBURY-OAK BLUFFS-EDGARTO^

VN 13

26

11.262

5,403

16,665

0.10

47

TRURO-WELLFLEET

9

29

32.537

32.537

0.20

42

WAREHAM-MARION

9

29

37.725

12,273

49.997

7 1 0 04 1

0.30

39

7

28

WESTPORT-FALL RIVER-BERKLEY

WEYMOUTH

' 78

1 1

1 17 AO';

^0

7

31

1 1 /,4Zj

87,695

5yj,ol3

35,585

123,279

0.74

WINTHROP

25

18

178.760

178,760

1.08

23

STATEWIDE TOTAL

1,679

12,253.185

4,306,572

16,559,757

100.00

OUT OF STATE

19

34.096

347,462

381,558

Shaded areas refer to towns which rank in top 10 for one or both of the categories.

12

Recreational statistics are shown in Table 6. Licenses issued in 1990 totalled
12,343, down slightly from 1989, with 7,562, or 61 percent, reporting that they fished
for lobster. In general, reporting rates, and landings did not change much from 1989.
Landings amounted to 416,952 pounds, or only 2.5 percent of commercial landings.
Often there are concerns by the commercial sector that recreational fishermen have
a detrimental effect on the resource. This obviously is not the case, as these figures
illustrate. It should be noted that those individuals who did not report, did not
renew their recreational license for 1991 as well. With the number of licenses issued
from 1989 to 1990 virtually unchanged, one quarter of the recreational fishery has
turned over in the last two years. Historically, this kind of turn-over rate is not
unusual.

Table 6. 1990 Massachusetts Recreational Lobster Fishery; License Status and Harvest Information

Method

License Type:

Diver

Diver/Pot

Potman

Unknown

Total

Percent

1) Number of Licenses Issued in 1990

4,758

3.567

4,018

0

12.343

2) Number That Reported

3.336

2,728

3,026

0

9,090

73.64%

a) Total Number That Fished

2.768

2.278

2,516

0

7,562

61.27%

b) Total Number That Did Not Fish

568

450

510

0

1,528

12.38%

3) Number That Did Not Report

1.499

872

1,089

0

3,253

26.36%

Percent Change

4) Number of Lobsters Reported landed

62.165

95.388

170,756

0

328,309

from 1989

Pounds of Lobsters (Calculated)*

78.950

121,143

216,860

0

416,952

1.80%

5) Number Pots Fished

7,600

19,721

0

27,321

-0.49%

6) Number of Hours Diving

48,324

35.075

0

83,399

5.77%

* Based on 1.27 Pounds per Lobster.

13

Territorial landings by commercial
fishermen were concentrated during the
months July through November when 84
percent of the yearly harvest was landed.
This is a typical scenario from year to year,
where catch increases sometime in mid to
late July and peaks in August and
September. Water temperatures rise during
this time inducing growth and subsequent
recruitment of previously sub-legal lobsters
into the legal size category. See Table 7 and
Figure 4.

The greatest harvest of lobster taken
from territorial waters was from the Boston
Harbor vicinity (including outlying areas
out to the territorial line or Area 4 on
Figure lA), where approximately 43% of
the state's territorial harvest was caught.
This far outweighs any of the other
designated areas in terms of landings. It is
difficult to determine which reporting

Table 7. 1990 Massachusetts Commercial Lobster
Fishery; Percent Monthly Territorial Harvest
for Each License Type

Month

Coastal

Seasonal

January

1.10

February

0.57

March

0.87

April

1.41

May

3.29

June

5.06

18.20

July

13.46

33.95

August

21.67

34.92

September

21.64

12.93

October

16.52

November

10.33

December

4.08

Total

100.00

100.00

QJ
t

'cd

o
-i-j

'si!

<D

o

o

C
(U

o

!-,

a.

24 -
22 -
18 -
14 -
10 -
6 -
2 -

Figure 4. 1990 Massachusetts Commercial Lobster Fishery; Total
Monthly Territorial Harvest for Coastal and Seasonal License Types

Total Territorial Harvest = 12,260,805 lbs.

21.6E

21.63

MM

— _—"!"■=

-_ _■
-i

16.51

13.47

1

I^^ - -

*

10 -js

5.07

i

4. 07

3.29

: „

1.10 n nr, 1.41

0.57 0-87

^Q

^^

^--- -sd I- 1 pr=— =1 [ 1

."'I

1 1 1 1 ^—' 1 1 -1 ' 1 — ""T" —■;-- ™ ".^.p...™

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Month

14

Table 8. 1990 Massachusetts Commercial Lobster

Fishery; Percent Territorial Harvest

by Area Fished for Each License Type

Area
Fished

Coastal

Seasonal

1

1.18

0.00

2

10.95

25.30

3

15.30

8.34

4

42.69

14.93

5

10.49

2.76

6

7.80

18.95

7

2.30

3.10

8

1.88

1.31

9

2.31

0.00

10

0.07

8.28

11

0.16

0.00

12

1.26

0.00

13

0.97

1.27

14

2.65

15.76

Total

100.00

100.00

areas (as defined by Figure 1 A) contributed
the most to the increase in landings over

1989, since the reporting map changed for

1990. See Figure lA for the map of fishing
areas, and Figure 5 and Table 8 for a
complete breakdown by area for each
license type and month.

Offshore license landings are not
shown in Figures 4 and 5 because license
holders of this type cannot harvest lobsters
within territorial waters. However,

landings are generally more spread out over
the year for these individuals compared to
the coastal license holders, with most of the
harvest coming in the months July to
January. This reflects both the offshore
potmen whose catch peaks much like the
coastal potmen, and the draggers whose
catch peaks in the winter months.

w
>

CO
X

'cO

'u
o

u
u

la
o

c

<v
o

CD

a,

Figure 5. 1990 Massachusetts Commercial Lobster Fishery; Total
Territorial Harvest for Coastal and Seasonal License Types by Area Fished

50

40

r. 30

20 -

10

0

42.67

15.30

10 97

1.18

Total Territorial Harvest = 12,260,805 lbs.

10.48

7 80

2.30 1.88 2.31

7
Area

8

0.08 0.16

— I 1 —

11

1.26 0.97

2.66

10

12 13

14

15

CATCH RATES

The average catch per trap haul for coastal lobstermen was .6664 pounds, a
slight increase over 1989. For traps fished one set-over day the average was .3352;
for those fished two days .6144; for three days .6802; and for four days .6627. See
Figure 6 for catch effort by set-over day.

Figures 7 and 8 reflect the average catch per trap haul - set-over day for area
fished and month, where set-over day is factored into the effort. The average catch
per trap haul - set-over day for 1990 was .2270, a slight increase over 1989. Monthly
figures mimic landings, and figures for each statistical reporting area show areas 4,
7, 8 and 9 above the average.

Overall these figures should be categorized as "estimates" since, in many cases,
fishermen will estimate the number of traps hauled per trip for each month. If a
fisherman leaves this information blank, or the combination of maximum traps, set-
over days, average traps hauled per trip and number of trips per month is out of
range for a particular month, the information is not factored into the analysis.

Figure 6. 1990 Massachusetts Commercial Lobster Fishery; Catch

per Unit of Effort by Set-Over Day for Coastal and All Potmen

OP.-,

C.D

+ = All Potmen

cd

2.0 -

■ = Coastal License Potmen

A

a

CO

xA /A\

/

/ /\ / W A

C
O

1,0 -

r\

/-^^ ' ^ \A

U 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 +

Set-Over Day

16

(0
Q

0)

>

O

•a

(0

w
a,
to
u,
E-

I-)

o

c
o

Figure 7. 1990 Massachusetts Commercial Lobster Fishery;
Catch Per Unit of Effort for Both Coastal and All Potmen by Month

0.4

0.3

= 0.2

0.1

0

Average CPUE for All Potmen = .2270

+ = All Potmen

■ = Coastal License Potmen

Jan Feb

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Month

(0
G

!-.
>

o

01

TS
0)

3

(0

o,

(0

u

E-

"(0

o

w

XI

o

CI,

0.4

Figure 8. 1990 Massachusetts Commercial Lobster Fishery;
Catch Per Unit of Effort for All License Types by Area Fished

0.3

0.2

0.1

Areas 1 - 14 = Massachusetts Territorial Waters

See Figure lA for Map

Average CPUE for All Potmen =- .2270

0

6 7 8 9
Area Fished

10 11 12 13 14

17

FISHING GEAR, VESSELS AND VALUE

In the commercial fishery, traps were valued at $21,502,173, diving gear at
$63,940, and power and non-power boats at $54,177,672, yielding a total gear value
of $75,743,785. Combined with the ex-vessel value of lobster sold, $40,755,747, gives
a total fishery value of $116,499,532. See Tables 9, 10 and 11.

Overall, 69% of the traps fished in the commercial fishery were wire framed,
with 30% being wooden framed and less than 1% categorized as "other". This
supports a continuing trend of increasing wire traps employed in the fishery.
Average value (including warp and buoy) ranged anywhere from $28.47 to $73.37,
with an overall average of $46.73. See Table 9.

Table 9. 1990 Massachusetts Commercial Lobster Fishery; Trap Types

Fished and Value for Each License

Type

Total

Percent

Coastal

Offshore

Seasonal

Trap Type

of Total

Wooden Framed Traps

127,219

12,611

132

139,962

30.42%

Value

$5,717,354

$925,250

$3,758

$6,646,361

Value/Trap

$44.94

$73.37

$28.47

$47.49

Wire Framed Traps

298,378

20,009

651

319,038

69.33%

Value

$13,419,761

$1,365,277

$22,619

$14,807,657

Value/Trap

$44.98

$68.23

$34.74

$46.41

Other Trap Types

1,165

1,165

0.25%

Value

$48,155

$48,155

Value/Trap

Total for License Type
Value
Value/Trap

$41.33

$41.33

426,762

32,620

783

460,165

$21,502,173

$46.73

$19,185,270

$2,290,526

$26,377

$44.96

<^A 01

$33.69

>/0.22

Value of trap includes warp and buoy. These figures include out-of-state fishermen.

18

m 5 O

lO * —

o •»

00

<« « -<

S 3 ^

«0 O

jn vr; r-

^^

t: "*

«^

•

^ c»<

en —

g "> t^

S

00 -<

1/1

73

i2
O

cu
a

>

I

a

3

2

V3

t- "» •-

?i

P

». -»

«* O

goo

oe

S ? '^

8 ::

a

S £ f^

r»1 \0

CS

O 5 -

S K -

8 -

<

<

O
O

H O

<S 00

2 S

00 ts
o

— 00

3 -

ts"

S 2

^0

o r- -

?! 53 ^

^ 9i Ot

SS 2

i^-^

1/1

as <o O
00

8

s; 2 ?

-« fO «^

v/1

§ ^. §

00

<0

■J - a

z -8 S

O 2 P

M CO ""

^

=5 "

-J
<

H

8 9

O tn

l~ ■*

O CS

m CS

PI CS

<o

■fl-

tn «

CS

ts

en >0 O
00 en

o> en 00

■<r CS

>o Tt

■<r —

CS

O en

tn
en

en Ov

I7^ >Ci

CS

I^-^

S S! ?

en

S; "^

en

00

3"^ s ?
CS

o —

— — «-i

CS —

m —

>0 — -fl-

1/1 Tt

00

CS — en

j« \e O

H "^ I »
§ :! "2 I

(£ 2

19

SI ■«• >o

t- 00 o

2 t ""

s

11.655

795.367

14,281

o sj o

Ov

^o

m (ft

« s s

M f»t <n

eo J* "H

3 a X
3<;

o S 8

Ov
00

a 8

^ 8

o

o

o o

8

s

o

00

.S

>

5

73

U
CO
(O

>

I

o

>

<u

S

O

a
c
O

M

3 8

so

t-

00

00

o

»

s

00

»

S? 8

00 1^

O -» O

*^ o
oo' e-i

1

»

£i

J

H

0

<

H

CO

<

8

S
S

?;
>«

s

00

O vo O

SJ

•TV

5

t~

■o

f^

iri

ts

o 8

S
r-

«0 (p -<

>« 0< 08

»C tn r«J

—T 00* ■^

Si

^

r> to

"X tn

:00:
3

t

cs

cs S ?5

00

3oo" oo"
s ^

O 3 P

CO CO "*

VO

R

PI

8

O «S o

5?

J
o

u

<

CiO

<

o
u

1 ^

o

8

00

00 o
■* VO
CS CM

oo"

Ov

S 8

R

1/1 00

Ov CS

^ 2

Ov

«1 o

CI Q

vO_ O
•-< m

O

o" CS

;^

s

CI

oo'

1

vrv

Ov
00

CO

o^

^

s

8 8

in in

8 8

00

VO

i

S

^

o

<<%

00

o

»^

c~

(N

r~

S

rr

Ov cl

^

CN vo
CS

*r\ o
«1 CS

o" c^"

O f5

a.

u

CO

U

3

^

Q £

O

20

VALIDITY OF DATA

Each year 150 coastal license holders are selected and audited for the records
they used to complete the catch portion of their catch report. The Division does this
to assess the amount of error involved in the reporting process. Selection is done
randomly except when fishermen fail an audit. In these cases, they are audited
again the following year. The audit was first instituted in 1977 for the 1976 catch
reports. Over the last five years the lobstermen selected for audit reported landing
6,105,853 pounds. The audit of their records revealed a harvest of 6,041,841 pounds
or a difference of 1.05 percent.

Last year the fishermen selected for audit reported harvesting 1,681,685 pounds
of lobster on their 1990 catch reports. The audit of their actual records showed total
landings of 1,660,164 pounds, a difference of 21,521 pounds or 1.28 percent. Nine of
the randomly selected fishermen have yet to respond to the audit request. Figure 9
shows the distribution of the percent difference between the selected fishermen's
reported catch and their audited records. In general, reported landings are very well
documented by dealer receipts and/or personal records, especially by the so-called
"high-liners" in the fishery. Most of the lobstermen have had licenses for several
years and know what is required in terms of reporting their fishing activities in
addition to the value of reporting accurately in the development of management
plans. They also know that their reported information is kept strictly confidential
and published only in aggregate form. These factors all contribute to a fairly
conscientious and responsible reporting constituency.

O

c

0)

cr

18

16 -

14 -

12

10 -

8

6

4 -

0

Figure 9. Massachusetts Commercial Lobster Fishery-
Frequency Distribution of the Percent Difference Between
Fishermen's Reported Catch and Their Audited Records

Overall Percent
Difference = 1.28

-80

-60

-40

Number of Fishermen Audited = 150

■20 20

Percent Difference

40

60

80

21

Figure 10. Coastal Map of Massachusetts
Showing Statistical Reporting Areas (Counties)

A. Essex

B. Suffolk

C. Norfolk

D. Plymouth

E. Bristol

F. Barnstable

G. Dukes

H. Nantucket

22

¥y«'JK>£iifi|i«'f»tir^<

%

'M

"4

**

-?

I

c
o

•l-I

u
01

o
o

m

u

-!-■ fC

C >-. I/!

Qj i- in

e -t: it; r-o

3 b- e: o

T3 U X3 o

i- O -ri S- '-I

s-K CS i CO

5 -^ >- >- <i:

Gj C -H -r-" >:_
j Qj -rt i-i

e u'i m -r-"

=■• C i- b- U^

IT. i- a; Hi i-

S Qi 'y t> 'jj

ti > r-: r-i ^

<C CD 3 ~i <r

< yi r^.- -■ V '^^ .,-

',>;< ' ' *■ '-^ Vv V, . J .

"* ; . ' . ' ■■''-*. -M . ' ' '

'is.

w

' ; t ■

•! r

^'

^''

• S '

<"/.