John German of the Long Island Sound Lobstermen’s Association showed the Council the new tags that will be required for each lobster trap (pot) under the upcoming management regime for this species. The tags will assist the states in implementing limits on the number of lobster traps each license-holder can fish. Mr. German stated that ASFMC had reneged on its earlier offer to underwrite the costs of instituting this required trap tag system; the states must now fund their own programs. He noted that the lobster conservation management team for Long Island Sound recommended that the cost of the tags to the fisherman should not exceed the actual tag cost plus postage. Maine and Massachusetts charge 20 and 16 cents per tag, respectively. The Federal Register of January 1999 set the true cost at 14. Mr. German stated that DEC is proposing a fee of at least $1/tag, with revenues beyond the cost of tag procurement to go to the cost of new clerical and enforcement staff as well as new boats to implement the trap tag program. The lobstermen do not believe that there should be any additional enforcement costs involved in checking these new tags, and strenuously object to the cost. Mr. German suggested that the administrative costs could be minimized by emulating the example of Massachusetts, where the tags are delivered directly to the lobstermen by a bonded tag vendor.

Mr. Colvin responded that DEC is seeking authority to charge up to $1 apiece for these tags, although the final tag cost/price and how it will be paid is not yet decided. He stated that he saw merit in the Massachusetts approach, as he saw little reason to burden Bureau of Marine Resources staff with the task of ordering, storing, and dispensing large numbers of lobster trap tags. The ASMFC Lobster Board will complete scoping out the addendum to Amendment 3 to the Lobster FMP, including the details of the trap tag program, at its late February meeting in Providence. The DEC must determine the actual cost of tag enforcement; the state legislature will determine how the cost will be funded.

Chairman Wise proposed that the Council take this issue up again at its 04 March 1999 meeting, after the details of the ASMFC plan worked out in Providence are known.