Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan

Gulf of Mexico
South Atlantic

About

Species managed: Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster are managed jointly by the Gulf of Mexico 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.

More Information

Maps and GIS
​​​​​​Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Monitoring Spiny Lobster Areas
Seasonal Closures  Areas closed to lobster trap gear
Florida Administrative Code for Lobster Areas Closed to Lobster Trapping in the Florida Keys
Dealer Permits and Reporting Amendment  
SIGN UP for Fishery Bulletins & Text Message Alerts  
RETURN to Gulf of Mexico Homepage  
RETURN South Atlantic Branch Homepage  

Species Managed

Actions

Current Recently Finalized Historical Actions

Amendment 13: Modifications to Spiny Lobster Gear Requirements and Cooperative Management Procedures

Amendment 13 would modify the federal regulations for the harvest of spiny lobster that apply in federal waters off Florida to be compatible with Florida state regulations concerning bully net gear requirements and commercial daily possession limits
Notice
,
Gulf of Mexico
Published
04/02/2019
There are no recently finalized actions associated with this management plan.

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; and considers restrictions on
Final Rule
,
Gulf of Mexico
Effective
07/23/2018

Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Spiny Lobster Historical Amendments and Rulemaking (1982-2017)

The followingis a list of historic rulemakings to the Fishery Management Plan for Spiny Lobser in theGulf of Mexico and South Atlantic effective in 2017 or earlier. For recent and current rule making, please vistin the Gulf of Mexico and South
Final Rule
,
Gulf of Mexico
Issued
08/27/1982

Last updated by Southeast Regional Office on 07/02/2019