Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

An Analysis Of V-Notching In The Maine Lobster Fishery, Kathleen A. Murphy

Honors College

In the face of declining stock and catch, fisheries stakeholders worldwide are evaluating conservation practices necessary for sustainability. Contrariwise, the Maine lobster fishery’s success in resource management, particularly with the v-notch law, stands as an exemplar for success. The v-notch law protects the reproductive stock via fishermen voluntarily marking egg-bearing females with a “notch” in the tail fin, indicating they may not be caught and sold. In 1948, lobstermen supported v-notch legislation having recognized the necessity of preserving their resource. This research provides an updated examination of the v-notch law’s role today in conservation efforts. Through an analysis of legislation …