2005 Lobster Stock Assessment

The assessment results are in: the Gulf of Maine lobster resource is in favorable conditions of abundance and fishing mortality relative to the 1981 through 2003 time series.

Abundance peaked in 2002, while fishing mortality has been steadily declining since the mid-1990s. Additional common sense indicators (abundance, mortality, and fishery performance) are positive. The increased numbers of traps are one glaring negative.

Not all news is favorable, as Southern New England is considered to be depleted and in poor condition; assessment recommendations are to increase abundance and decrease fishing mortality there.

New assessment methods, supported in part by the Maine lobster fishery, have been developed that mark a significant departure from past approaches. New reference points have been suggested that are based on average conditions of the resource and the fishery over the last 25 years.

For full details on the model development, stock assessment, peer review, and management response, please go to http://www.asmfc.org/americanLobster.htm or contact DMR lobster biologist Carl Wilson directly ( or (207) 633-9538).

This page was last updated March 7, 2006.

DEPT. OF MARINE RESOURCES

2005 Lobster Stock Assessment