At North Shore Bugs, we believe in harvesting responsibly. Sustainable lobstering protects marine ecosystems, ensures healthy lobster populations, and supports coastal communities like ours for generations to come.
At North Shore Bugs, we believe in harvesting responsibly. Sustainable lobstering protects marine ecosystems, ensures healthy lobster populations, and supports coastal communities like ours for generations to come.
Our boat, Risky Business, follows regulations made by state and federal agencies. This includes the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), NOAA Fisheries, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Our boat, Risky Business, follows regulations made by state and federal agencies. This includes the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), NOAA Fisheries, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
These regulations include, but are not limited to:
These regulations include, but are not limited to:
Ensuring traps are equipped with escape vents that let juvenile lobsters out and avoid harming other species.
Ensuring traps are equipped with escape vents that let juvenile lobsters out and avoid harming other species.
Each trawl is marked with buoys that have breakaway mechanisms to reduce entanglement risk for whales and other marine life.
Each trawl is marked with buoys that have breakaway mechanisms to reduce entanglement risk for whales and other marine life.
Each licensed lobsterman in Massachusetts can fish no more than 800 traps. Trap limits help prevent overfishing and keep lobster populations strong.
Each licensed lobsterman in Massachusetts can fish no more than 800 traps. Trap limits help prevent overfishing and keep lobster populations strong.
Seasonal closures in state waters begin in January and end in May to help protect North Atlantic Right Whales during migration.
Seasonal closures in state waters begin in January and end in May to help protect North Atlantic Right Whales during migration.
Lobstermen use a gauge tool to measure lobsters before keeping them. Only lobsters between 3¼" and 5" (from eye socket to tail base) can be kept. Too small? Tossed back so they can grow.Too big? Released to protect the strong breeders. This protects both young lobsters and the older, fertile ones.
Lobstermen use a gauge tool to measure lobsters before keeping them. Only lobsters between 3¼" and 5" (from eye socket to tail base) can be kept. Too small? Tossed back so they can grow.Too big? Released to protect the strong breeders. This protects both young lobsters and the older, fertile ones.
Egg-Bearing Females are protected on purpose:
Egg-Bearing Females are protected on purpose:
If a female lobster is found carrying eggs under her tail, she is NEVER harvested.
Instead, she’s gently returned to the ocean so she can keep doing her part to grow the population.
If a female lobster is found carrying eggs under her tail, she is NEVER harvested.
Instead, she’s gently returned to the ocean so she can keep doing her part to grow the population.
V-Notching marks the mamas:
V-Notching marks the mamas:
To go one step further, lobstermen use a special tool to clip a small V-shaped notch in the tail of egg-bearing females before releasing them.
To go one step further, lobstermen use a special tool to clip a small V-shaped notch in the tail of egg-bearing females before releasing them.
That little notch means: She’s a known breeder, and to let her go
That little notch means: She’s a known breeder, and to let her go
It’s illegal to keep v-notched lobsters in Massachusetts, even if they’re not currently carrying eggs. This helps protect the most productive females over their entire lives.
It’s illegal to keep v-notched lobsters in Massachusetts, even if they’re not currently carrying eggs. This helps protect the most productive females over their entire lives.
