There are no under development actions associated with this management plan.
Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan
About
Species managed: Spiny Lobster
Spiny Lobster are managed jointly by the Gulf and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. The area of management is from the Mexico/Texas border to the North Carolina/Virginia border.
See current rules that are open for comment here.
To reach Sustainable Fisheries staff, please call 727-824-5305.
Maps and GIS
- Spiny Lobster Areas
- Areas Closed to Lobster Trap Gear
- Areas Closed to Lobster Trapping in the Florida Keys
Related Resources
- Annual Catch Limit Monitoring
- Seasonal Closures
- Florida Administrative Code for Lobster
- Dealer Permits and Reporting Amendment
- Sustainable Fisheries in the Gulf of America*
- Sustainable Fisheries in the South Atlantic
- Fishery Bulletins & Text Message Alerts
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.
Species Managed
Actions
Amendment 13: Modifications to Spiny Lobster Gear Requirements and Cooperative Management Procedures
The final rule for Amendment 13 modifies federal regulations for the harvest of spiny lobster off the coast of Florida.
Effective
07/26/2019
Regulatory Amendment 4: Spiny Lobster Annual Catch Limits and Targets and Recreational Trap Prohibition in the South Atlantic
This amendment modifies the stock status determination criteria and catch levels for spiny lobster in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic federal waters based on updated information and revised scientific recommendations.
Effective
07/23/2018
Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Spiny Lobster Historical Amendments and Rulemaking (1982-2017)
Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Spiny Lobster Historical Amendments and Rulemaking (1982-2017)
Issued
08/27/1982