A second major die-off of lobsters occurred again this fall. Reports of widespread mortality of lobsters began in late August and early September and continued through November and early December. While initially the problem was confined to the western portion of LIS indications are that significant mortalities and reduced catches are now occurring in the central and eastern areas. Sea sampling trips conducted by DEP and New York Department of Environmental Conservation staff with commercial fishers confirm the continued occurrence of dead and dying lobsters and the low abundance of lobsters as evidenced by low catch per unit of effort estimates. We are especially concerned as lobsters fishers throughout the LIS are seeing few juvenile and egg bearing lobsters that are the future of the fishery.
Commercial fishers can cope with downturns in catch and harvest, that is part of fishing.
But, our lobster fishers see little future in this fishery because of the paucity, and in many areas, the absence of lobsters of all ages and sizes. The lack of juveniles and egg bearing lobsters especially, may presage a total collapse of the fishery. Disaster assistance is needed to confirm the cause of the lobster mortalities and determine the extent of the die off in LIS and adjacent areas, to delineate the economic and social impact on communities and fishers from the collapse of the fishery, and to provide direct assistance to the fishers and their communities. Thank you for consideration of my request. The DEP continues to gather more data and is ready to provide your staff with any additional information that would assist you in making your determination regarding a fishery failure and a fishery resource disaster.