JOB 3: LOBSTER FISHERY DATA COLLECTION FINAL REPORT

JOB 3: LOBSTER FISHERY DATA COLLECTION FINAL REPORT ABSTRACT Starting in 2006, all individuals who purchased lobster harvest licenses were required to report catch and effort data either by trip-level or monthly summarization. Paper logbooks were the most popular medium for reporting, as opposed to electronic methods. The number of licensed harvesters decreased from 516 in 2016 to 515 in 2017, which is significantly below values seen prior to 2010. This decreasing trend over the time series is likely the result of requirements of limited access license holders to take steps to maintain license both eligibility and meet transfer criteria in addition to economic variables. Pounds of lobster harvested between 2006 and 2017 in New Hampshire state waters ranged from 977,693 in 2007 to a time series high of 1,207,468 pounds in 2016. 2017 exhibited a slight decrease from the 2016 value to 1,076,488 pounds. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) in 2017 reached a time series high value of 0.28 pounds per trap haul set over days (lbs/thsod). Commercial and limited commercial licensees harvested over 94% of the total state harvest throughout the time series, with the highest average monthly harvest of lobster occurring July through October when participation and effort are at their highest. Beginning in 2005, all lobster dealers were required to report transaction-level data. Pounds of lobster reported by dealers decreased from a record high 5,782,190 pounds in 2016 to 5,633,939 pounds in 2017. The price per pound increased from a time series low of $3.99 in 2009 to a time series high $5.63 in 2016. The ports of New Castle, Portsmouth, and Newington continued to have the highest quantity of lobster landed in 2017. INTRODUCTION The American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery is the largest and most important commercial fishery within New Hampshire s (NH) waters. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFGD) has monitored the lobster fishery since 1969 by collecting catch and effort data from lobster license holders through various reporting systems. It lacked the thoroughness, however, that standardization of data collection parameters allows in ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 1

assessing migratory marine stocks with other state or federal data collection programs. All Atlantic coastal states and federal partners have developed standards through the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) in a cooperative effort to develop standardized data collection methods. The objective of the program was to develop a coastwide, comprehensive reporting system, producing quality data which will lead to better decisions in fisheries management, and reduce industry reporting duplication among partners. All program partners standardized data are available in a timely basis through the ACCSP Data Warehouse for use in improving the quality of stock assessments and management of coastal fisheries. NHFGD began instituting ACCSP s reporting standards in a phased approach utilizing a two-ticket reporting system with lobster dealers reporting lobster landings and harvesters reporting catch and effort data. In 2005, all NH lobster dealers with a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) dealer permit that carried a reporting requirement were required to report through an ACCSP web-designed reporting system called Standard Atlantic Fisheries Information System (SAFIS). All NH lobster dealers who did not possess a NMFS permit requiring mandatory reporting were required to report, but could chose to do so through the SAFIS system or paper reporting forms. In 2006, NH instituted a harvester trip-level reporting program for lobster and coastal harvest fisheries in state waters utilizing all ACCSP s standardized data elements. The second phase required trip-level reporting for all harvesters landing 1,000 pounds of lobster or more and the remaining licensed harvesters reported monthly summarized catch and effort information. Prior to 2006, only a random selected portion of lobster license holders were required to report catch and effort data under the randomly selected harvester (RSH) reporting system (McBane et al 2005). PROCEDURES American Lobster Harvest Reporting The NHFGD annually issues commercial and recreational lobster harvest licenses. The licensing process collects all ACCSP required data elements and is loaded into the ACCSP registration database on a timely basis. All licensed lobster harvesters have been required by regulation to report catch and effort data since 2006. Based on the previous year s total harvest, those that harvest less than 1,000 pounds of lobster were required to report ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 2

monthly, summarized data on an annual basis. Those who harvested 1,000 pounds or more annually were required to report trip-level information on a monthly basis for all months a license was held. Trip-level reporting is the preferred ACCSP standard. All harvesters were given the option to report trip-level data electronically or by paper logbooks. Reply postcards for indicating reporting preference were provided to all harvesters. Any harvester could report trip-level data electronically using a Microsoft Access reporting program (ehtr) created by NHFGD in 2006. The program generates a Microsoft Excel file sent via email attachment to NHFGD by the harvester on a monthly basis. Beginning in 2017, harvesters were also given the option of utilizing the web-based ACCSP reporting program etrips to report their catch with the goal of transitioning all electronic reporters to etrips from the ehtr by 2018. Those who reported via paper were sent either an annual report form summarizing monthly catch and effort (Figure 3-1) or logbooks to record triplevel information (Figure 3-2). Logbooks were modified to reflect regulatory changes for the 2010 season requiring additional information on trap configuration (Figures 3-3 and 3-4). The annual reporting form is due by January 10 of the following year, regardless of fishing activity. Monthly, trip-level logbooks or electronic filings are due by the tenth of the following month whether fishing has occurred or not. Meetings or telephone conferences were arranged as needed to assist harvesters with either paper or electronic reporting requirements. Received reports are reviewed before being uploaded (electronic reports) or key entered (paper reports) into the NHFGD lobster harvest database. Two separate audits are conducted on a monthly basis to ensure data accuracy. Harvesters are sent a letter upon completion of their reporting requirement along with a copy of a reporting record as a record of compliance. All individuals required to report on a monthly basis are sent letters of compliance progress twice a year. In an effort to encourage timely data submission, the letter indicates whether or not reports have been received, as well as, the timeliness of receipt. Annual reporters are sent a reporting form when their lobster license is obtained. A reminder letter of the reporting requirement was mailed in November, and another letter was sent if a report had not been received by January 10 th of the following year. All individuals that have not fulfilled mandatory reporting requirements are not issued a future license until reports are submitted. ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 3

At the end of the year, the compiled data are compared to NMFS Vessel Trip Reports (VTR) data to assure no duplicate records have occurred between the two reporting systems before data are submitted and loaded into the ACCSP data warehouse. The data summarize total lobster harvest (pounds), effort (trap haul set over day or THSOD), and catch per unit effort (CPUE). Lobster Dealer Reporting NHFGD annually issues both commercial lobster licenses and wholesale marine species licenses. Harvesters and dealers are required to indicate an intended wholesale business trade of lobsters to identify a dealer status. All wholesale dealers are required to report ACCSP standardized trip-level data on a monthly basis. The dealers may elect to report using several mediums: 1) paper logbooks (Figure 3-2 through 3-4), 2) electronically report directly to SAFIS, or 3) utilize an electronic harvester trip reporting program (ehtr) developed by NHFGD. Reports are due by the tenth of the following month. Upon receipt, all reports are reviewed and keyed or uploaded into SAFIS by NHFGD. Two separate audits are performed on SAFIS data to ensure accuracy. Dealers are sent a letter upon completion of reporting with a copy of a dated reporting record as a record of compliance. Compliance letters are mailed twice a year indicating whether reports have been received and the timeliness of reports. All individuals that have not fulfilled mandatory reporting requirements are not issued a future license until reports are submitted. RESULTS American Lobster Harvest Reporting The number of licensed lobster harvesters decreased slightly from 516 in 2016 to 515 in 2017, with a range of 474 seen in 2014 to 577 seen in 2007 and 2008 (Table 3-1). The number of licensed recreational lobster harvesters has fluctuated over the time series ranging from 159 in 2014 to 215 in 2007. The number of recreational harvesters in 2017 decreased to 181, and the limited commercial 600-trap license decreased in 2017 to the lowest value observed (112). Part-time commercial 100-trap license holders increased from 183 in 2016 to 193 in 2017, while commercial 1200-trap license holders decreased for a second year to 29 after 5 years of stability at 31. Trip-level reporting, mandated by regulations in 2006, saw a series high initial use of 27% and has declined to 21% in 2017 (Table 3-2). Despite the ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 4

time series decline in percentage of license holders reporting trip level data, the percentage of pounds reported to the trip level ranges from 90-95% during the time series with 94% of harvested pounds reported to the trip level in 2017 (Table 3-3). Delinquency rates increased from 11% in 2016 to a series high 18% in 2017 (Table 3.1). Paper logbooks have remained the preferred reporting medium since the electronic reporting option was offered in 2006. The number of license holders utilizing electronic reporting increased in 2017 to 25, the highest value observed since 2012, from a time series low of 19 in 2016. (Table 3-2) Harvest of lobsters in state waters decreased from a time series high of 1,207,468 pounds in 2016 to 1,076,488 lbs in 2017(Table 3-4). Throughout the time series, July through October typically exhibited the highest annual harvested pounds, with peak harvest occurring during August in 2017 (Figure 3-5). Catch per unit effort (CPUE) increased from 0.20 lbs/thsod in 2016 to a time series high of 0.28 lbs/thsod in 2017(Table 3-4). The corresponding effort (THSOD) decreased in 2017, consistent with the decrease of total traps fished also observed in 2017 from 314,461 in 2016 to 305,313 (Table 3-4). Lobsters were harvested by individuals in four different license categories; recreational, part-time commercial (100-trap), limited commercial (600-trap), and commercial (1200-trap). Regulations requiring mandatory reporting were instituted in 2006, allowing for actual pounds of harvested lobsters to be obtained by license type instead of the expanded estimated harvest previously calculated. Lobsters harvested by commercial lobster licensees (1200 traps) represented between 60% and 69% of the total harvest during the time series (Table 3-5). The limited commercial 600-trap licensees harvested the second largest percentage of the catch ranging from 27% to approximately 36% of the catch, resulting in greater than 94% of the total harvest taken annually by these two groups. The part-time commercial 100-trap and recreational licensees harvested approximately 3-5% and <1% of the total lobster harvested in NH, respectively. Lobster Dealer Reporting The number of lobster dealers is variable over the time series ranging from 117 to 148. The number of dealers increased from 123 in 2016 to 132 in 2017 (Table 3-6). The annual reporting delinquency increased to 14% in 2017 from 7% in 2016. ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 5

The total landings reported by dealers to SAFIS has generally shown an increasing trend with slight decreases recently observed in 2013 and again in 2017. While there was a slight decrease in 2017 to 5,633,939 lbs from a time series high 5,782,190 lbs in 2016, the value for 2017 remains the second highest in the series (Table 3-7). The average price per pound ranged from $3.99 in 2009 to a series high $5.63 per pound in 2017. The price has increased steadily since 2012 to the highest value seen. Peak landings occurred in August in 2017 (Figure 3-6). The majority of lobster landings occurred at the combined ports of Portsmouth, New Castle, and Newington (Table 3-8). The annual reporting delinquency increased to 14% in 2017 from 7% in 2016 (Table 3-6). DISCUSSION American Lobster Harvest Reporting The number of licensed lobster harvesters has been on an overall downward trend since 2008. The 2017 value is well below those values seen prior to 2010, but is the second highest value observed since that time. The slow economy was likely the initial cause of this trend and while things have improved, license numbers have been slow to respond. This trend has also correlated with a change in regulations to reduce latent effort in the limited access lobster licenses (limited commercial 600- trap and commercial categories). In order to maintain eligibility for the limited access lobster licenses, eligible license holders must either purchase the limited access license each calendar year or submit a Department provided affidavit postmarked by June 30 annually. The ability to purchase a less expensive license or no license and submit an affidavit to maintain eligibility has allowed for a decrease in the number of limited commercial 600-trap licenses purchased throughout the time series. Additionally, if the license holder would like to transfer their license eligibility to another individual, they must meet minimum, annual, poundage requirements to do so. As a result, it is anticipated the number of limited commercial 600-trap licenses, and commercial 1200-trap licenses, will continually see a decrease. A decrease to a time series low of 112 limited commercial 600-trap licenses was observed in 2017, consistent with this anticipated trend (Table 3-1). The number of 1200-trap commercial license holders varies minimally depending upon inactivity and license transfers. The number of harvesters in ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 6

this category has varied little since this license became limited access in 1999. Additionally, as described above, commercial license holders must take steps annually to maintain eligibility of the license including the purchase of the license. This license saw a decrease to a time series low of 29 license holders in part due to the eligibility criteria as well as a decision for some harvesters to fish exclusively in federal waters. In 2006, mandatory reporting was initiated for all lobster harvest licensees during NH s development of ACCSP s standard of trip-level reporting for all commercial harvesters. Reporting delinquency had remained consistently between 10% and 12% since 2010 with the exception 15% in 2015, but has increased to 18% in 2017 (Table 3-1). The initial low times series values may have been a result of the large outreach effort educating the industry with the new reporting standards, new reporting forms, and additional reporting media options. Semi-annual compliance letters continue to be sent which indicate reporting performance and any delinquency. In 2015, a very high initial delinquency rate was observed which led to the discovery that new and recreational harvesters had not received reporting forms from our licensing office with their issued license as is standard practice. In 2016, procedures were followed correctly and the delinquency rate decreased to what has been observed in recent years. In 2017, an unexpected increase in delinquency was again observed to a time series high despite following correct procedures. Primary delinquency lies with annual, monthly-summary reporters in the recreational and part-time commercial 100-trap category. These reports are not due until January 10 of the following year, and harvesters often neglect to file them when they have completed their fishing activity for the year. Individuals may renew their license on December 1 of that year. In an effort to improve compliance, these harvesters were put into delinquency status prior to December 1. If the harvesters attempted to renew the license between December 1 and January 9 the license was issued, however, the harvester was informed their report had not been received. Additionally, these license holders are less likely to renew their license on an annual basis minimizing the repercussions of not being able to renew a license until a report is received. Reports received, often many years late, will be less likely to contain accurate data. As an increase in the percentage of license holders in the recreational and part-time commercial 100-trap license categories is observed, it is expected this number will remain higher than desired without firmer penalties for delinquency. ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 7

Electronic reporting is not utilized efficiently by the industry (Table 3-2). The option allows for easy record keeping, quick report submission, direct communication between NHFGD and the harvester through electronic mail, and alleviates duplicative reporting. The paper reporting medium was also designed to prevent unnecessary duplication of data submittal by providing the harvester the opportunity to report trip and transaction-level data on one reporting form (Figure 3-3). Use of electronic reporting formats has increased to 25 individuals in 2017, the highest value observed since 2014, in a trend that is anticipated to continue with the roll out of ACCSP designed etrips (web-based) and etrips mobile (tablet-based). The NHFGD created the initial electronic reporting program, the ehtr Microsoft Access based program in 2006. Despite frequent updates, the program is no longer compatible with many personal computers and is incompatible with Apple products, resulting in fewer and fewer individuals utilizing the electronic reporting options. Outreach was conducted in 2016 in preparation for the release in NH of etrips and etrips mobile program in 2017. etrips and etrips mobile were adopted in 2017 for use by NOAA Fisheries, which allowed for NH to enable the use of these programs for all our lobster harvesters. This allows harvesters to fulfill reporting requirements for all jurisdictions in the similar, streamlined manner a federal dealer could through use of SAFIS edr. Webbased reporting programs do not come with the same compatibility issues of installed programs, so it is anticipated use of electronic options will increase over time. etrips mobile is currently only available to federal harvesters, but will be available to state harvesters in the near future. It is expected the ease of a tablet-based reporting option will also appeal to a larger number of paper reporters. The majority of harvesters continue to report by paper medium. This is most likely due to familiarity with the medium that has been used by the industry for over 30 years, ease for those not computer savvy, and portability, as many harvesters keep their reporting forms on their vessels. With the inception of electronic and paper mandatory reporting requirements, trip-level reporting has dramatically increased thereby creating more detailed catch and effort data for stock assessments and fishery management. This trend should continue as some harvesters not required to report on a trip-level basis are voluntarily doing so to supply managers with better information. ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 8

With the inception of mandatory reporting for all in the lobster industry, reporting has provided more accurate catch, effort, and landings data since 2006. With the exception of 2007, a year impacted by extreme flooding conditions, reported harvest has consistently totaled approximately 1.1 to 1.2 million pounds annually during the time series (Table 3-4). The CPUE has exhibited an increasing trend throughout the time series and went from 0.20 lbs/thsod in 2016 to a series high value of 0.28 lbs/thsod in 2017, while fishing the second lowest number of total traps fished in the time series. This increasing trend and record high CPUE in 2017 could be attributed to many factors, but increased population levels are likely the primary factor, as corroborated by high landings in 2017 and the stock size in the most recent lobster stock assessments (ASMFC 2009 & 2015). A stock assessment is ongoing and results are expected in 2018. While some inter annual variation is evident, the largest harvest consistently occurs from July through October (Figure 3-5). A number of factors may contribute to this: weather, increased effort by full-time and part-time harvesters, and migratory pattern of lobster to offshore waters during winter months. Favorable weather during summer months allows for increased effort in the fishery. Other monthly or annual fluctuations in harvest may be attributed to environmental events (recorded in metadata), water temperature, migration patterns of lobsters, a greater number of inexperienced harvesters entering the fishery, and lack of market for catch or low price. While there were major flood events in 2006 and 2007 resulting in mortality from low salinities in the estuarine systems, 2008 through 2017 remained free of large influxes of fresh water. The commercial licensees harvested the most lobster during the time series (Table 3-5). This group encompasses the least number of harvesters, but consists of full-time harvesters with the largest trap allotment (1200 traps). Limited commercial 600-trap harvesters landed the majority of the remaining lobster harvest. This group represents the highest potential for traps fished, but consists of fewer full-time fishermen. The majority of harvesters within this category do not fish the full 600-trap allotment. Lobster Dealer Reporting Mandatory transaction-level dealer reporting allows for a complete look at the landings in NH ports, a comparison to the harvester reported catch and effort, and the value of the lobster fishery to NH. These data capture all lobsters landed in NH regardless of where they were harvested; therefore, ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 9

dealer reported landings will be larger and more comprehensive than the estimated catch reported by harvesters fishing within state waters only. The data analysis of actual landings from dealer reports combined with harvester reported catch and effort provides managers with comprehensive information for policy decision-making and stock assessments. As the lobster dealer reporting program has continued, the number of wholesale dealers has fluctuated between 26 and 41 during the time series with an increase from 123 total dealers in 2016 to 132 total dealers in 2017 (Table 3-6). Knowledge of the reporting requirement has improved over the 12 years since its inception and additional dealers were recognized by tracking through mandatory lobster harvest reporting. Lobster harvesters are required to indicate the wholesale dealer whom they sold to. This allowed NHFGD to contact dealers previously unrecognized and new dealers as they started operations. As comprehension of the definition of a dealer has increased, many of those who originally indicated they would be dealing lobster and did not do so, have since refrained from making that designation. The delinquency rate of lobster dealers was expected to decrease as familiarity with reporting requirements and options increase, and despite remaining increased communication delinquency rates are higher than desired and reached a record high of 14% in 2017. The rate is directly attributed to the aforementioned monthly-summary lobster harvesters who also indicate their intent to sell their catch retail. These small scale dealers have minimal incentive to report their catch and the only disincentive is the refusal to renew their license in the future until reporting requirements are met. As with harvester reporting, this is expected to continue until stronger penalties are assessed to those who do not report in a timely manner. Lobster landings have exhibited an increasing trend through the time series with record landings occurring in each year beginning in 2009 with the exception of 2013 and 2017. While 2017 did not produce a series high landing, it remains the second highest value behind that of 2016. These high values most likely correspond to a high number of pounds of lobster reported by harvesters, no significant or lengthy adverse weather events, and increasing trend in CPUE (Tables 3-4 & Table 3-7). These high landings trends are corroborated by the latest lobster stock assessments which show the Gulf of Maine lobster stock in good health and at high levels of abundance (ASMFC 2009 and 2015). ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 10

Prices have had an increasing trend since a time series low of $3.99 per pound observed in 2009 to a time series high value of $5.63 per pound in 2017 (Table 3-7). This increasing trend during the reporting period likely indicates consumer demand is increasing and economic conditions have continued to improve to values higher than those seen prior to the economic issues beginning in 2008. Additional factors played into the initial decrease in average price per pound in 2008 from the average in 2007 as outlined during a special meeting held by Maine Department of Marine Resources. These factors included the economic recession, increased supply from Canadian and other New England harvesters, lack of consumer confidence, and tightened lending (LeDuc-Kuntz, 2008). Most of New England s lobsters are sold to Canadian processors; therefore, the abundance of Canadian lobsters frequently leaves NH lobster dealers without buyers for the bulk of their lobsters during periods of fall and early winter. The ports of New Castle, Portsmouth and Newington remained the ports where the highest total poundage of lobsters are landed. This can be explained by the large number of dealers and vessels who operate from these ports or truck product from boats landed at these ports. In summary: 1. All lobster harvesters were required to report catch and effort to ACCSP standards starting in 2006. 2. All lobster dealers were required to report trip-level transactions to ACCSP standards starting in 2005. 3. The number of licensed lobster harvesters decreased from 516 in 2015 to 515 in 2017, and the number of dealers increased from 123 in 2016 to 132 in 2017. 4. Pounds of lobster harvested in New Hampshire state waters decreased from a time series high 1,207,468 lbs in 2016 to 1,076,488 lbs in 2017. 5. Catch per unit effort increased to a time series high 0.28 lbs/thsod in 2017 from 0.20 lbs/thsod in 2016. 6. Pounds of lobster landed in New Hampshire decreased from a time series high 5,782,190 pounds in 2016 to 5,633,939 pounds in 2017. 7. Price per pound of landed lobster increased to a time series high $5.63 in 2017 from $5.25 in 2016. ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 11

REFERENCES ASMFC. 2015. Stock Assessment Report of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. American Lobster Stock Assessment. ASMFC American Lobster Stock Assessment Subcommittee. 438p ASMFC. 2009. Stock Assessment Report No. 09-01 (Supplement) of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. American Lobster Stock Assessment for Peer Review. ASMFC American Lobster Stock Assessment Subcommittee. 298p. McBane, C., C. Patterson, B. Smith, M. Dionne, J. Carloni and R. Zobel, 2005. Programs Improving Management of ASMFC Managed Species in New Hampshire, 2004. New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Annual Performance Report, Project No. 3-ACA-146. 17p. LeDuc-Kuntz, Gina, November (2008). Lobster Crisis: Solutions will come hard. Commercial Fisheries News, 35(3). Retrieved May 29, 2008 from http://www.fish-news.com/cfn/editorial/editorial_11_08/lobster_crisis- Solutions_will_come_hard.html ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 12

Table 3-1. Number of New Hampshire licensed lobster harvesters, by license type, for 2006 through 2017. Year Recreational Part-time Commercial 100 Traps Limited Commercial 600 Traps Commercial Total % Licensees Delinquent Delinquent 2006 188 41 303 29 561 34 6 2007 215 158 174 30 577 33 6 2008 200 189 157 31 577 73 13 2009 203 194 141 30 568 38 7 2010 162 185 132 30 509 60 12 2011 169 157 145 31 502 54 11 2012 161 152 151 31 495 48 10 2013 176 147 144 31 500 57 11 2014 159 151 133 31 474 53 11 2015 185 164 125 31 505 78 15 2016 188 183 115 30 516 58 11 2017 181 193 112 29 515 92 18 Table 3-2. Method of lobster harvest reporting in New Hampshire for 2006 through 2017. Monthly Trip Summarized Level % Reporting Paper Paper % Reporting Monthly Year Electronic (Annual) (Monthly) Trip Level Summarized 2006 33 409 119 27 73 2007 46 442 89 23 77 2008 37 463 77 20 80 2009 40 469 59 17 83 2010 24 419 66 18 82 2011 26 400 76 20 80 2012 25 392 78 21 79 2013 22 400 78 20 80 2014 22 370 82 22 78 2015 22 404 81 20 80 2016 19 413 84 20 80 2017 25 408 82 21 79 ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 13

Table 3-3. Pounds and percent of reported lobster harvest by reporting type from New Hampshire lobster fishing for 2006 through 2017. Monthly Summarized % Trip Level % Year 2006 100,937 9 1,004,876 91 2007 78,177 8 899,516 92 2008 55,208 5 1,062,763 95 2009 105,019 10 978,012 90 2010 106,517 10 975,429 90 2011 85,139 8 1,003,780 92 2012 61,097 6 1,036,801 94 2013 82,650 8 921,796 92 2014 59,756 5 1,033,940 95 2015 87,789 7 1,087,214 93 2016 75,431 6 1,132,054 94 2017 65,130 6 1,011,358 94 Table 3-4. Total Pounds, THSOD, CPUE and total number of traps fished reported from New Hampshire lobster harvesters in state waters for 2006 through 2017. Trap Haul Set over Days (THSOD) Catch Per Unit Effort (lbs/thsod) Total Traps Hauled Year Pounds (lbs) 2006 1,105,813 9,994,389 0.11 364,487 2007 977,693 10,015,511 0.10 365,350 2008 1,117,971 9,466,061 0.12 361,420 2009 1,083,031 9,482,460 0.11 358,537 2010 1,081,946 8,610,959 0.13 352,585 2011 1,088,919 7,505,899 0.17 328,968 2012 1,097,899 7,061,462 0.17 328,662 2013 1,004,447 6,208,772 0.19 275,997 2014 1,093,695 7,092,564 0.18 306,037 2015 1,175,003 6,925,560 0.21 306,800 2016 1,207,468 7,322,390 0.20 314,461 2017 1,076,488 6,666,259 0.28 305,313 ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 14

Table 3-5. Pounds of lobster harvested in New Hampshire by year, license type, and percent of total harvest for 2006 through 2017. Limited Commercial 600 Trap % Part-time Commercial 100 Trap % Recreational % Year Commercial % 2006-2010 3,685,597 68.69% 1,496,931 27.90% 152,751 2.85% 29,968 0.56% 2011 727,666 66.82% 322,506 29.62% 33,628 3.09% 5,118 0.47% 2012 683,629 62.27% 372,682 33.95% 34,746 3.16% 6,813 0.62% 2013 628,462 62.57% 331,852 33.04% 37,426 3.73% 6,707 0.67% 2014 653,486 59.75% 389,585 35.62% 45,727 4.18% 4,897 0.45% 2015 723,628 61.59% 390,709 33.25% 53,286 4.54% 7,379 0.63% 2016 753,797 62.43% 379,852 31.46% 65,539 5.43% 8,281 0.69% 2017 722,312 67.10% 294,778 27.38% 52,601 4.89% 6,797 0.63% Table 3-6. Number of licensed lobster dealers by license category and delinquent status for 2006 through 2017. Year Dealers Lobster Wholesale Total Delinquent (%) 2006 111 33 144 6 2007 107 41 148 5 2008 90 41 131 9 2009 89 28 117 9 2010 121 26 147 9 2011 115 31 146 7 2012 104 33 137 6 2013 110 33 143 9 2014 100 40 140 7 2015 100 37 137 7 2016 95 29 123 6 2017 109 23 132 14 ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 15

Table 3-7. Pounds of lobster landed and average price per pound in New Hampshire reported by dealers for 2006 through 2017. Price per Year Pounds (lbs) Pound ($/lb) 2006 2,604,724 $5.24 2007 2,468,811 $5.06 2008 2,567,021 $4.78 2009 2,985,159 $3.99 2010 3,648,523 $4.07 2011 3,919,118 $4.17 2012 4,228,905 $4.05 2013 3,830,079 $4.33 2014 4,372,243 $4.74 2015 4,716,085 $5.20 2016 5,782,190 $5.25 2017 5,633,939 $5.63 Table 3-8. Pounds of lobster landed in New Hampshire by port reported by dealers for 2006 through 2017. Year Hampton New Castle/ Newington/ Portsmouth Rye Seabrook Other 2006 30,953 2,341,535 13,572 217,655 1,466 2007 35,719 1,710,848 4,550 64,745 652,949 2008 53,072 2,156,472 155,020 182,517 19,940 2009 64,484 2,575,757 131,373 180,862 39,761 2010 76,056 3,238,866 135,439 158,561 39,601 2011 92,953 3,387,175 159,934 192,459 86,597 2012 107,464 3,662,453 169,375 209,613 80,000 2013 100,224 3,404,677 85,508 238,419 1,252 2014 95,404 3,934,538 105,816 234,532 1,953 2015 84,991 4,286,021 110,318 232,961 1,794 2016 72,485 5,233,258 137,707 338,492 3,249 2017 45,008 5,140,321 115,037 285,015 48,559 ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 16

Figure 3-1. Annual Reporting Form for Lobster Harvest prior to 2014 ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 17

Figure 3-2. Monthly Lobster Harvester and Dealer Reporting Form prior to 2014 ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 18

Figure 3-3. Annual Reporting Form for Lobster Harvest beginning 2014 ACFCMA Job 3 2017 Page 19

Figure 3-4. Monthly Lobster Harvester and Dealer Reporting Form beginning 2014 ACFCMA Job 3 17.Doc Page 20

2017. Figure 3-5. Pounds (lbs) of lobster harvested in state waters by month for 2006- Figure 3-6. Pounds of lobster landed at New Hampshire ports as reported by dealers by month for 2006-2017. ACFCMA Job 3 17.Doc Page 21