Title 16 › CHAPTER 71 — ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT › § 5107b
If no coastal management rules for American lobster are in place by December 31, 1997, the Secretary must issue temporary rules by March 1, 1998. Those rules will stop boats that catch lobsters in the exclusive economic zone by anything other than pots or traps from landing more than 100 lobsters (or parts) per trip of 24 hours or less, with a 500-lobster cap for any 5-day period, or 500 lobsters for trips of 5 days or more. Before January 1, 1998, the Secretary must watch lobster landings. If catches by non-pot/trap boats rise a lot, the Secretary can adopt conservation rules under section 5103(b). The Secretary must follow national fishery standards, allow public comment, and consult the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Any temporary rules stay in place until the full coastal lobster plan under section 5103(b) is put into effect.
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Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 5107b
Title 16, Conservation
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110