Why it matters
A size floor prevents the fishery from removing lobsters before they have had enough time to survive juvenile mortality and contribute to spawning.
Minimum Legal Size
The smallest carapace length a lobster must reach before it can be legally retained in the fishery.
Definition
Minimum legal size is the lower retention threshold. Lobsters smaller than that measurement must be returned so they can continue growing and reproduce.
Conservation impact
In Maine, the minimum legal size is 3 1/4 inches carapace length. Paired with protections for V-notched and large lobsters, the rule keeps the fishery from being driven purely by short-term harvest pressure.
Quick facts
- Maine rule
- 3 1/4-inch carapace minimum
- Measured by
- Carapace length gauge
- Conservation function
- Protect juvenile lobsters before harvest
Related reading
The Future of Lobster Conservation: Challenges and Solutions
American lobster conservation faces a pivotal moment: the 2026 ASMFC Benchmark Stock Assessment found the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock has declined 34% since 2018 and overfishing is technically occurring, while southern New England populations remain at record lows. Here is what the science says about the challenges ahead and the conservation strategies that are working.