Size Rules to Help Protect Mass. Lobsters

Strict restrictions may be placed on lobster fishing in Massachusetts in the next few years in an attempt to maintain the crustaceans’ regional population.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is considering a proposal that would make it illegal to harvest a lobster longer than 6 ¾ inches in state waters, The Boston Globe said Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for the group said the fact that larger lobsters produce a greater amount of eggs led to the proposed regulations. The spokeswoman said the group, which regulates coastal fishing from Florida to Maine, feels its plan would ensure a substantial lobster population in the future.

New England Aquarium senior scientist Michael Tlusty said such preservation efforts are ideal for the fishing industry.

Once an animal gets so big, if you can protect it, it’s better for the state of the fishery, Tlusty told the Globe.